Despite taking very different paths to the NFL, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders now find themselves in the same quarterback room with the Cleveland Browns – but with very different rookie contracts.
Gabriel, a seasoned college veteran with stints at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 50 picks ahead of Sanders, who went in the fifth.
While Sanders was a marquee figure in college football under his father Deion Sanders at Colorado, it’s Gabriel who will earn more from his first professional contract.
According to Spotrac, Gabriel‘s draft slot guarantees him around $6.2 million over four years. Sanders, despite his high profile and impressive performance in Boulder, is projected to earn $4.6 million in the same span.
The disparity marks a reversal of fortunes from college, where Sanders reportedly earned $6.5 million through NIL deals in 2024 – compared to Gabriel‘s $1.9 million.
Competition heats up in Browns’ QB battle
While Gabriel‘s contract may provide a short-term edge, both quarterbacks know their future wealth depends on one thing: performance. The path to a massive second NFL contract – like the 14 active QBs currently signed for $200 million or more – starts by earning and keeping a starting job. And the competition in Cleveland is fierce.
In addition to battling each other, both Gabriel and Sanders must outplay Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flacco, who isn’t giving up the spotlight quietly.
“I’ve said, ‘I’m not a mentor. I play football,'” Flacco told reporters at Browns OTAs. “There’s already been a lot of learning moments. I’ve got plenty of experience, and I’ll share that, but making sure they listen? That’s not my job.”
Flacco‘s strong words were backed by his performance during the first set of offseason practices. According to ESPN Cleveland, here’s how the quarterbacks stacked up in early OTAs:
- Joe Flacco: 9 completions on 14 attempts, 1 TD
- Shedeur Sanders: 7 of 9, 3 TDs
- Dillon Gabriel: 11 of 16, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Kenny Pickett: 9 of 16
After the session, Aaron Goldhammer reported the consensus QB ranking as Flacco in the lead, followed by Sanders, then Gabriel and Pickett.
Gabriel now faces the challenge of flipping that narrative before the Browns face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 on September 7.
If he wants to justify his higher salary and earn a shot at long-term success, he’ll need to climb past three quarterbacks – including Sanders – and show he’s ready to lead on Sundays.
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