The Cleveland Browns choosing Dillon Gabriel earlier than fellow quarterback Shedeur Sanders within the 2025 NFL Draft appeared surprising, however a brand new report has clarified why the crew made that alternative.
In a narrative printed Sunday, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported the Browns had been involved with Sanders’ “unfavorable performs” in his last season at Colorado. Final season, the 144th decide of the 2025 draft tossed a career-high 10 interceptions and took 42 sacks in 13 begins.
Gabriel, in the meantime, by no means threw greater than seven interceptions in six seasons at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. The 94th decide of the 2025 draft additionally proved that he shortly learns new schemes all through his school profession.
“He is performed in a number of schemes, picked up new terminology shortly and hit the bottom operating in every of his stops,” wrote Cabot. “He is extraordinarily assured, has wonderful management means and has began an FBS-record 63 video games. He is additionally tied Case Keenum for the all-time FBS file with 155 [touchdown] passes.”
The draft positions of Gabriel and Sanders will decide the depth chart when OTAs start on Could 27, per Cabot.
Gabriel being forward of Sanders could show that the league did not view him as a blue-chip prospect.
“I bear in mind becoming a member of you guys within the fall and saying, ‘Shedeur’s not a top-five man. That is not the kind of participant we’re coping with right here. He is extra of a late one, early two. That is what the expertise says,'” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler mentioned Friday on the “Scoop City” podcast. “If Shedeur Sanders had Dillon Gabriel’s intangibles, I one hundred pc imagine he would have been drafted someplace within the top-50 picks.”
Sanders should make up floor in Cleveland’s QB competitors between himself, Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.
Though Gabriel (5-foot-11, 205 kilos) lacks best dimension for an NFL QB, the Browns appear to be excessive on him and imagine he is extra pro-ready than Sanders.
