The Cleveland Browns locker room is making its preferences known. In an unusual draft move, the front office selected both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. While both enter training camp on equal footing, their teammates already seem to have a favorite in the battle for a roster spot.
The Browns currently have one of the most unpredictable quarterback rooms in the NFL. Along with drafting Gabriel and Sanders, the team is awaiting the return of injured starter Deshaun Watson and has signed veteran Joe Flacco and third-year quarterback Kenny Pickett in the offseason.
After being drafted, Gabriel displayed professionalism and maturity, stating, “I know a healthy quarterback room is important, and being able to compete day in and day out is naturally what happens and part of what we do.”
Sanders, on the other hand, threw a poolside party.
Who do the Browns prefer?
After being selected 144th overall, Sanders threw an extravagant party that ended with him jumping into a pool fully clothed. Experts questioned the optics of his celebration, but his new teammates seem impressed.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II recently admitted that Travis Hunter was his favorite player from this year’s draft, but he also expressed admiration for Sanders:
“I like him because of the swagger, though. I just like a quarterback who’s got that. It factors in when you come in as a quarterback-if you come in with confidence and swagger.”
Tight end David Njoku wasted no time welcoming Sanders with a message on social media:
“Let ’em all hate, fam. You know what you got in you!!”
Meanwhile, cornerback Denzel Ward hyped him up on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“@ShedeurSanders Time to be legendary.”
The future of Gabriel and Sanders
The Browns’ quarterback situation is complicated. Watson is expected to miss most, if not all, of the final year of his contract due to injury. The front office opted not to exercise Pickett’s final option year, meaning 2025 will be his last chance to impress the coaching staff.
At 40 years old, Flacco shows no signs of retirement and appears poised to start while Watson recovers. That leaves Gabriel and Sanders in a tough spot-though Sanders can at least take comfort in knowing that the locker room is already behind him, even before he’s thrown a single pass in the NFL.
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