The Atlanta Falcons in 2026 will have one of the most talked-about quarterback rooms in the NFL. While Kirk Cousins headed to the Las Vegas Raiders after being released, the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr., who is coming off an ACL injury that ended his season prematurely last year.
Tagovailoa will not be the only new addition to Atlanta, however, as the coaching staff has been completely overhauled, starting with head coach Kevin Stefanski.
The addition of Stefanski is interesting not only because it should reshape the offense, but also because of his previous connections with the Cleveland Browns. That includes quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes is still an offseason trade option for Atlanta.
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The Browns quarterback room is once again crowded following the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland currently has Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Gabriel and this year’s sixth-round pick, Taylen Green.
Watson is still expected to be the starter, with Sanders projected as the primary backup. After drafting Green, that likely leaves Gabriel as the odd man out. Knox believes a reunion with Stefanski in Atlanta could make sense.
“With Deshaun Watson also in Cleveland’s quarterback room—and set to cost $45 million whether he’s on the roster or not—one of the Browns’ second-year signal-callers will likely be out. Our money is on Gabriel, a 5’11” pocket passer who was a better fit for former head coach Kevin Stefanski than for the current offense,” Knox wrote.
Gabriel, who was selected in the third round at No. 94 overall in last year’s draft, likely would not command much in return. Knox has Atlanta offering just a 2027 seventh-round pick.
“While teams won’t be clamoring to add Gabriel as a potential starter, the 25-year-old should draw interest as a backup. While his athletic limitations were on display last season, he looked like a capable spot starter, posting an 80.8 passer rating in six starts,” Knox added.
Gabriel appeared in 10 games last season, going 1-5 as a starter. He threw for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 59.7 percent of his passes.
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The Falcons already added a third quarterback earlier this offseason before the draft, signing Trevor Siemian on March 25.
Siemian’s last start came during the 2023 season with the New York Jets. He has not appeared in an NFL game since then. He holds a 15-18 record as a starter across four different teams.
That said, his presence does not guarantee a roster spot entering the season. That could leave the door open for a potential move for Gabriel.
What makes Gabriel even more interesting is that, beyond his connection to Stefanski, he would bring a unique layer of continuity. He would be the third left-handed quarterback on the roster, alongside Tagovailoa and Penix — something rarely seen at the NFL level.
Would this create another complicated quarterback situation for Stefanski? He has dealt with instability at the position before, and while Gabriel would not bring the same spotlight as Sanders, his addition could still raise questions about the pecking order.
If injuries were to strike — something both Tagovailoa and Penix have dealt with — Gabriel could find himself in a meaningful role. That scenario would likely impact Penix more, especially considering Tagovailoa is on a one-year deal.
Needless to say, this would be a tricky move for Stefanski if Atlanta decides to pursue it.
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