The Cleveland Browns entered the 2025 season with an intriguing quarterback competition, but as the year has progressed, it’s become increasingly clear that one name dominates the conversation: Shedeur Sanders.
Since being thrust into the starting role, Sanders has seen his profile skyrocket while fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel has all but disappeared from the narrative surrounding Cleveland’s offense.
What once looked like a balanced QB battle has turned into a situation where “only Shedeur exists”, at least in the eyes of fans and the team’s social media.
Initially, things seemed more equal. Gabriel, a thirdround pick out of Oregon in the 2025 NFL Draft, earned the starting job early in the season and showed glimpses of potential, including a solid Week 5 performance against the Minnesota Vikings.
However, inconsistent play and a lackluster team performance, including struggles on offense and poor scoring output, limited his opportunity to build momentum.
Meanwhile, Sanders, selected in the fifth round, originally sat behind both Joe Flacco and Gabriel on the depth chart, but his fortunes changed when Gabriel suffered a concussion midseason.
Since taking over, Sanders has been the focal point of the Browns‘ offense and attention.
In Week 12, he guided Cleveland to a 2410 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, marking his first career start and a rare bright spot in a difficult campaign.
He’s thrown for over 1,200 yards and accounted for multiple touchdowns, garnering praise for flashes of playmaking, even as turnovers and inconsistency remain noticeable concerns.
Social media and Fan reactions highlight Gabriel’s absence
The team’s recent social media “core memories” video, a montage of standout moments from the 2025 season, sparked a wave of reactions because it featured Sanders prominently while barely acknowledging Gabriel.
In the clip, Sanders appears smiling alongside key teammates like Myles Garrett, while Gabriel‘s absence was striking. That omission ignited responses from fans, some surprised, others pointedly critical.
One fan wrote simply, “No Dillon Gabriel?” expressing disbelief that his name wasn’t included.
Another joked, “Where has Dillon been? We don’t see him anywhere on the sideline?” Meanwhile, one commentator offered a more thoughtful observation, suggesting that Sanders simply looks more comfortable and connected within the team environment, something they felt Gabriel hasn’t demonstrated.
The broader context is that Cleveland‘s offensive struggles have masked both quarterbacks’ individual efforts.
While Gabriel showed promise at times, his limited production and the team’s overall inconsistency made it difficult for him to retain the spotlight.
Conversely, Sanders has benefitted from impressive moments, including his best statistical performance with multiple touchdowns, that have captured attention despite the Browns‘ losing record.
As the season winds down, it remains unclear how the Browns will navigate their quarterback situation for 2026.
For now, however, Shedeur Sanders is the name on everyone’s lips, and Dillon Gabriel has become a footnote in a story that increasingly revolves around Sanders‘ rise and Cleveland’s quest to find stability under center.
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