The Cleveland Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, adding fresh energy and speculation to a quarterback corps that also includes veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.
With preseason looming, questions are mounting about which rookie could climb the depth chart, or find themselves in a starting role if the season doesn’t go as planned.
“The Browns won’t try to tank, but they have a rough early schedule, and will be hard-pressed to have a winning record at midpoint,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot wrote in an article for Cleveland.com.
“If they’re clearly not in the hunt, they’ll want to give Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders a chance to play so that they can determine if one of them has a legitimate shot to start for them next season.”
This potential turning point could shift the season’s narrative and set the stage for a changing of the guard at quarterback if things start to spiral.
Gabriel vs. Sanders: Early impressions and internal buzz
Browns insider Tony Grossi analyzed the rookies’ rookie minicamp performances, praising Gabriel’s polish and command of the field: “I thought Dillon Gabriel, both days, looked a little bit better. He throws a tight spiral. He throws a beautiful ball. He’s very assertive. He knows the pocket; you could tell that even though they’re not rushing. He just has a pocket presence; better arm strength than I thought.”
Zac Jackson, another team observer, pointed to Sanders as the more naturally gifted passer: “In just throwing the ball, it’s not close, [it’s] Shedeur Sanders.”
Despite being picked later, Sanders impressed with his raw talent, but Gabriel‘s early-round selection may suggest the Browns see more immediate value. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted: “They’re really high on Gabriel… essentially over drafted him in the third round just to ensure that they got him.”
High stakes for both rookies
Although the quarterback room remains crowded, the Browns may not keep five QBs once the regular season begins. Fowler also hinted that trades are on the table: “They look at quarterback pieces like currency and value… Maybe it’s Pickett, maybe it’s one of the rookies… I could see that sort of manoeuvring.”
When asked about his readiness to challenge for the starter spot, Sanders simply said: “We got preseason first.”
Joe Flacco is expected to begin the year with the “big edge,” but a rough start could open the door for one of the rookies to get reps later in the season.
Flacco‘s veteran leadership and system familiarity give him a cushion, but the leash may shorten if the team falls behind in the playoff race.
Sanders has also drawn off-field attention, receiving two citations for excessive speeding in June. While not career-defining, the incidents highlight the level of scrutiny placed on rookie behavior, especially when competing for a high-stakes role.
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