The Miami Dolphins appeared to have their sights set on one quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft. But after the Browns selected him, they went in another direction.

This quarterback is surprisingly not Shedeur Sanders, but Dillon Gabriel – the player the Browns took in the third round.

According to former NFL quarterback-turned football media personality Kurt Benkert, the Dolphins were high on Gabriel and wanted to select him in the third round.

But with rumors now suggesting that Gabriel is struggling in Cleveland amid a highly-publicized quarterback battle, Benkert sees opportunity for Miami.

‘I wouldn’t be shocked to see the #Dolphins trade for #Browns QB Dillon Gabriel at the end of the preseason,’ Benkert tweeted on Monday.

‘They liked him a ton and saw him as an incredible scheme fit with athletic upside and were going to take him a few picks later, but then the Browns drafted him (per source).’

The Miami Dolphins could be interested in Dillon Gabriel, according to a former NFL QB

Gabriel is fighting for a roster spot with the Browns after they took Shedeur Sanders

The Dolphins did draft a QB – Quinn Ewers – but Benkert says Miami preferred Gabriel

Gabriel would fit pretty well in the Dolphins’ system – sharing a similar profile with current starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Benkert then added that the Dolphins ‘traded that pick away after Gabriel was no longer available.’

It’s unclear what pick Benkert may be referring to. The Browns took Gabriel 94th overall. The Dolphins did have pick 98, but traded that pick to the Las Vegas Raiders as part of a package to move up back in the second round. Miami’s next pick was 116th overall – in the fourth round – which they then traded to the Houston Texans.

The Dolphins did eventually draft a quarterback when they took Quinn Ewers in the seventh round.

On Ewers’ selection, Benkert said, ‘Nothing against Ewers, they took him at a spot they liked – but it’s believed the preference was Gabriel earlier in the draft.’ 

The Browns eventually selected Sanders in the fifth round of the draft, putting two rookie quarterbacks on their roster already saturated with signal callers.

Sanders’ shocking fall down the draft boards finally ended with the 144th overall selection.

Benkert played four NFL seasons as a backup with the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers.