Dillon Gabriel, an afterthought in Browns' QB competition, has a fantastic preseason finale

Dillon Gabriel never really made a move in the Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition this preseason. Maybe he was never given a true shot.

Deshaun Watson was the QB1 most of the offseason, and when the Browns picked him as the starter it seemed like a predetermined outcome. Shedeur Sanders was the one who was said to have been competing with Watson. He got a start in the Browns' second preseason game ahead of Watson.

Gabriel, a third-round pick last year, never seemed like a consideration. That made Thursday night's performance a bit interesting.

Gabriel had a big first half for the Browns in the preseason finale against the New England Patriots as Watson and Sanders sat out. Gabriel was 12 of 15 for 186 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the first half. His 157.9 passer rating was just short of a perfect mark, which is 158.3. The Browns scored on all five of Dillon's possessions in the first half, not counting a one-play drive before the half expired.

Watson was an unpopular pick as the Browns' starter for Week 1. Sanders didn't do enough to clearly win the job. There will be some wondering if Gabriel should have gotten a longer look, especially since Thursday night's game happened on a national Amazon Prime Video broadcast.

"What a great half, happy for him," Browns coach Todd Monken said during an Amazon Prime Video interview at halftime. "Guys played well around him. Certainly took advantage of his opportunity."

Thursday night's performance highlighted what Gabriel does well. He understands where to go with the ball, makes quick decisions and can accurately deliver short passes to playmakers. He doesn't have a cannon arm and won't often push the ball downfield, but he did roll out for one intermediate completion that turned into a 52-yard gain.

All of Gabriel's touchdowns were similar. They were quick passes that found the open spot in the defense and allowed the target to get into the end zone.

The Browns have made their decision with Watson and aren't going to turn back from it. But Cleveland is also likely to have multiple starting quarterbacks this season. Gabriel made his case to be one of those quarterbacks, if the situation arises.