Jets may have backup quarterback option brewing from Browns camp competition

Here’s a fun question: How many quarterbacks have started for both the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns since the latter resumed play in 1999? Obviously, Tyrod Taylor and Joe Flacco have done it in recent years. Josh McCown suited up for both teams in the mid-2010s. 

And, if we really want to include Vinny Testaverde, then he works despite playing for the pre-relocation Browns.

Everything considered, that’s not exactly a bad group, and we’ll see whether second-year Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel is next to join the club.

Should the Jets pursue a trade for Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel?

If the Jets are interested in Gabriel, then it’s hard to imagine the Browns immediately sending Darren Mougey to voicemail. 

Barring injury, Gabriel is likely slated for the No. 3 quarterback job behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.

All signs point to Watson starting Week 1 against the Jaguars, though he and Sanders will enter training camp continuing to compete.

The 25-year-old Gabriel had a 59.5% completion percentage and a 7-2 TD-INT ratio over 10 games and six starts. However, his 80.8 quarterback rating would have been third-worst among qualified quarterbacks and was well below the league average of 91.4.

And to be clear, that’s the quarterback rating, not ESPN’s QBR stat. That’s likely a good thing, seeing as Gabriel’s 31.4 QBR would’ve ranked last league-wide.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Gabriel’s size potentially works against his long-term fit in Cleveland, as does the recent coaching change. 

Had the Jets not drafted Cade Klubnik, I’d be open to at least considering a Gabriel trade.

But do the Jets really need to trade for a quarterback entering the second year of his standard four-year rookie deal? They just used a fourth-round pick on Klubnik to fill the developmental quarterback role.

Let’s also not forget that the Jets have three 2027 first-round picks, which could position them to either take a quarterback next spring or trade for one if the opportunity arose.

We’re not trying to put the cart before the horse when it comes to the Jets’ 2027 plans, we promise.

None of this is to say that Gabriel can’t be a productive NFL quarterback, though I don’t see him making sense for the Jets.

I’m personally skeptical that the Browns would consider cutting Gabriel this summer, even after taking Arkansas’ Taylen Green in the sixth round.

Then again, these are the Browns. There’s a reason why they and the Jets are still seeking franchise quarterbacks. 

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