We don’t have to torture avid Cleveland Browns followers with the quarterback jokes, as a result of they’ve all been informed. We don’t have to bag on Deshaun Watson or Jimmy Haslam, as a lot as these two people have introduced legit causes for mockery and scorn. And we don’t really want to go over all of the adjustments that occurred with the teaching workers per se — everybody visiting this wonderful website probably already is aware of that Kevin Stefanski was changed by Todd Monken as head coach and offensive shot-caller, whereas Jim Schwartz was changed by Mike Rutenberg as the person answerable for the protection.
Ballot: How are you feeling after Week 1 of Browns coaching camp?
Loads and nothing in some way occurred in Week 1 of Browns coaching camp. In comparison with the way you felt earlier than camp opened, how are you feeling now:
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As an alternative, let’s dive into causes for optimism which have little or no to do with the quarterback factor as a result of we’ll go there in a minute. The 2026 Browns can profit from EVP/common supervisor Andrew Berry’s current personnel strikes, together with a 2025 draft that seems to be long-term nice. The protection underneath Schwartz was typically wherever from fairly good to essentially good, and outdoors of Myles Garrett, a lot of the key items are returning. It’s not as if Jared Verse, who got here to Cleveland within the Garrett commerce, is chopped liver, both — he’s simply not a lead-pipe first-ballot Corridor of Famer lock like No. 95. A minimum of not but.
The 2026 draft introduced two estimable weapons in receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, and the offensive line underwent a neat transformation this offseason with first-round sort out Spencer Fano and free brokers Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, and Tytus Howard. 2025 Hidden Gem Teven Jenkins introduced his presence with authority final season, so the entrance 5 must be very stable over time. Rookie operating again Quinshon Judkins was an absolute boss when wholesome.
Mainly, the 2026 Browns seem like a type of groups which might be only a quarterback away from competition. Which is a bit like saying that you simply’re one Eddie Van Halen away from being Van Halen, however one does the most effective one can with what one has.
Wherever the Browns are headed this season, they’ll want the absolute best from everybody on the roster — not simply the large names. To that finish, I’ve recognized three Hidden Gems — one underrated veteran, one underrated free agent, and one underrated draft decide.
And I’m positive the underrated veteran received’t encourage some agita within the feedback. All I ask is that you simply hear me out on this one.
Underrated veteran: QB Dillon Gabriel
BEREA, OHIO – JUNE 10: Dillon Gabriel #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a go through the Cleveland Browns Necessary Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
The Browns mustn’t count on top-tier quarterback play within the 2026 season. We’re fairly positive about that.
When you’ve lowered the bar accordingly in that regard, what’s the subsequent most vital factor for the sport’s most vital place?
For the Browns, situational consistency could possibly be it. And that’s why Dillon Gabriel could possibly be the staff’s most suitable choice this season.
Dillon Gabriel
I do not know, guys. I’ve a humorous feeling that Dillon Gabriel might play his manner into the beginning job in these subsequent few weeks.
If Watson is cooked and Shedeur is mentally a step behind, is it actually that on the market to imagine DG is likely to be our greatest possibility?
I am going to say this for him (vs Shedeur) – final season, Dillon performed towards the harder a part of the schedule. And nonetheless put up respectable numbers behind the worst offensive line within the league.
Do you suppose the tide is likely to be turning?
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It began in 2024, when Gabriel was Bo Nix’s alternative at Oregon. Total in that season, Gabriel accomplished 326 of 451 passes for 3,854 yards, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a passer score of 114.6. Good numbers, however it’s how Gabriel obtained to these numbers that impressed me.
When underneath strain: 56 of 104 for 892 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer score of 104.3.When blitzed: 103 of 142 for 1,286 yards, 15 touchdowns, one interception, and a passer score of 132.5.On passes of 20+ air yards: 27 of 49 for 960 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer score of 131.9.Throwing from the pocket: 275 of 361 for 3,137 yards, 22 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer score of 118.6.Throwing exterior the pocket: 51 of 86 for 720 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer score of 102.9.
Gabriel needed to await his photographs with the Browns in 2025, however when he obtained them, he did ship. Total, he accomplished 110 of 185 passes for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer score of 80.8. Once more, it was how Gabriel obtained to these numbers that stood out in a quarterback room that couldn’t get out of its personal manner more often than not.
When underneath strain: 32 of 63 for 320 yards, 4 touchdowns, one interception, and a passer score of 80.1.When blitzed: 37 of 63 for 313 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a passer score of 75.7.On passes of 20+ air yards: 2 of 8 for 44 yards, one landing, one interception, and a passer score of fifty.0 (okay, this wants some enchancment).Throwing from the pocket: 97 of 157 for 767 yards, six touchdowns, one interception, and a passer score of 84.0.Throwing exterior the pocket: 13 of 28 for 170 yards, one landing, one interception, and a passer score of 63.1.
Does this recall to mind Tua Tagovailoa as a degree guard-style quarterback who’s fairly good at distributing the ball in every single place, so long as you don’t ask him to scald defenses with deep balls, and rely an excessive amount of on practical mobility? Earlier than you snicker at any Tua comps, take into consideration how a lot Tagovailoa at his greatest would have introduced a marked enchancment over what Shedeur Sanders or Joe Flacco did with the Browns final season, and definitely what Deshaun Watson would have compelled us to observe had he been wholesome.
It’s not that Dillon Gabriel is the man to interrupt the Browns’ ridiculous quarterback curse. For the 2026 season, that’s not the purpose. The purpose is that in the event you ask Gabriel to restrict his deeper photographs to the intermediate stage (on throws of 10-19 yards final season, he accomplished 19 of 44 for 305 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer score of 97.3), and let him prepare dinner underneath middle (the place he did see a comparatively good uptick in EPA/Play)… properly, possibly the Browns might make sufficient of that to keep away from stranding their protection once more, and really win some ballgames in successive order.
Underrated free agent: LB Quincy Williams
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 27: Quincy Williams #5 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill through the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Exercises at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Might 27, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
New coaches like to carry gamers with whom they’re acquainted to their new stops, and new Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg fortunately introduced linebacker Quincy Williams to Cleveland as soon as he had signed on as Jim Schwartz’s alternative. Williams, the brother of former New York Jets and present Dallas Cowboys inside defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, was chosen within the third spherical of the 2019 draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Murray State, and Rutenberg was the Jags’ assistant linebackers coach on the time. When Rutenberg grew to become the Jets’ linebackers coach in 2021, he introduced Williams onto the roster after Williams did not make last cuts with Jacksonville in August of that 12 months.
This reunion mustn’t come as a shock.
“That’s my dog. He’s like my brother,” Williams stated of Rutenberg as soon as Williams had signed his two-year, $13 million contract with $9.5 million assured. “First thing before we talk about football, the biggest thing is Rudy cares about the heart. What I do off the field affects what I do on the field. So, he wanted to tackle both things as far as what I do on the field, so I can show up as myself — show up as this personality always smiling as me, show up every single day at work like that. So, he cares about that a lot. And then on the field, as long as we take care off the field, on the field should be easy. He taught me every single thing I know as far as the linebacker positions in the league. He was with me the two teams I’ve been on, so we have a good relationship.”
Williams has by no means been what you’d name a star in protection, however relating to dealing with ahead, blowing up run matches, and going after the quarterback, he’s obtained all of it on level. Final season for a Jets protection that was typically fairly abysmal, Williams racked up 4 sacks, 12 pressures, eight tackles for loss, 61 solo tackles, and 42 stops. For a Browns protection that will likely be seeking to place strain gamers round Jared Verse because it as soon as tried to do for Myles Garrett, Williams’ blitz effectivity from all around the entrance seven must be a significant addition.
“[Like] a cheetah chasing a gazelle when he first wakes up,” Williams stated of his taking part in type. “My mindset is be there before the ball gets there, or be there before the runner or receiver knows you’re there. The only way I can do that is by my preparation. That’s making sure the game plan is right, making sure I know where I need to be, making sure I know where my teammates are too. So, I know what plays I can take and what shots I can take. And so, all that put together looks like a cheetah chasing a gazelle, because I know where I’m going and I know how fast I need to be to get there before you turn around.”
Having Williams and Defensive Rookie of the Yr Carson Schwesinger because the Browns’ major linebackers ought to reply a number of questions for a protection in transition within the post-Schwartz period.
Underrated draft decide: DB Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren #28 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
Often, I restrict underrated draft picks to third-day guys. However as a lot tape work as I’d accomplished on the wave of do-it-all safeties within the 2026 draft, watching Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren drop all the best way to the 58th decide within the second spherical, when Ohio State’s Caleb Downs went eleventh total to the Dallas Cowboys, and Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman went twenty fifth total to the Chicago Bears, simply appeared… odd.
Possibly there was a small-school bias at play, as a result of McNeil-Warren’s tape confirmed him to be essentially the most purely athletic of the three, and he’s been capable of match acumen to that athleticism as a rule.
Final season for the Rockets, McNeil-Warren performed 45% of his snaps as a single-high security, 20% within the slot, 19% as a break up security, 14% within the field, and a couple of% on the surface. He had one sack, 5 pressures, 42 solo tackles, 17 stops, 4 tackles for loss, two compelled fumbles, and in protection, he allowed six catches on 15 targets for 116 yards, 50 yards after the catch, one landing, two interceptions, 5 go breakups, and an opponent passer score of fifty.3.
“I think what’s so special about Emmanuel is the versatility that he brings,” Assistant GM & Vice President of Soccer Operations Catherine Hickman stated after the Browns dedicated that little bit of larceny. ”You’re considering of a participant that may play excessive, can play low, a participant that has glorious ball expertise, dimension, energy, physicality. So actually, a participant that the best way we need to play protection, simply offers our defensive coaches so many choices. And so they’re going to be extraordinarily happy to work with him.”
The tape doesn’t lie. I had a straightforward first-round grade on McNeil-Warren, and I believed he could possibly be as a lot of an impression participant as Downs, and extra of an impression participant than Thieneman.
Placing McNeil-Warren in the identical secondary as Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Grant Delpit, and Ronnie Hickman? That’s a spicy meatball, and while you marry that with the aforementioned linebacker versatility, Cleveland’s protection might bollix opposing offenses with all types of fascinating seems.
