Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel faces long odds in the team’s crowded quarterback competition, with one analyst calling out the team for selecting the record-setting college passer with a third-round pick.
Gabriel, listed at 5-foot-11, was taken by Cleveland with pick No. 94 overall after a productive college career at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. While his leadership and football IQ have been praised, questions about his size and ability to adapt to the pro level have lingered.
In a recent article analyzing projected win totals, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur dismissed the idea that Gabriel could seriously challenge for the starting quarterback job, suggesting the Browns may have overvalued intangibles in their evaluation.
“Joe Flacco is back to save the day, assuming he beats out Kenny Pickett. Your mother told you never to assume, but she loves Flacco,” Tafur said. “And Shedeur Sanders should get a much-needed win and beat out Dillon Gabriel for the No. 3 job, as the Browns will learn you can’t draft a short quarterback in the third round just because he has a firm handshake and intangibles.”
The Browns have the lowest win total in the NFL at 4.5. Tafur believes the Browns will go under that number.
“The Browns should have traded Myles Garrett to get more draft picks for the inevitable rebuild, but they didn’t — which will suck in some over-4.5 win players. Sorry, guys. The Browns are definitely starting 0-5, and maybe 0-8,” Tafur said.
Browns Confident in Dillon Gabriel Selection
Dillon Gabriel entered the NFL Draft as the most experienced quarterback in his class, with a well-traveled and prolific college career spanning three programs.
He started at UCF, where he threw for 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns while completing 554 of 913 passes over three seasons. In 2022, Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma, adding another 6,828 yards and 55 touchdowns on 496-of-751 passing across two seasons as the Sooners’ starter. He capped off his collegiate journey at Oregon in 2024, delivering 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns on 326-of-447 passing.
In total, Gabriel accounted for 187 career touchdowns, setting a new all-time FBS record. The selection was seen as a reach, but the Browns were confident in the pick.
“We spent a lot of time with Dillon throughout this process, brought him in right after the combine, did obviously the private visit and workouts out in Eugene (Oregon),” Browns GM Andrew Berry said. “Decorated college career, very accurate, very poised, throws with anticipation, good mobility. We just thought he had a really well-rounded game.”
The selection of Gabriel became even more debated when Cleveland selected Sanders 50 picks later in the fifth round.
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Has ‘Superpower’ Setting Him Apart
Gabriel may not have the prototypical size of a franchise quarterback, but Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com believes it’s his football IQ that sets him apart.
“His superpower in the competition is his computer-like processing speed and decision-making, and it’s where he can get a leg up in the competition. During spring practices, including rookie minicamp, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, Gabriel looked solid and held his own, but he can really make his move in camp during joint practices against the Panthers and Eagles, and the preseason games,” Cabot said. “That’s when Gabriel, who started an FBS-high 63 games in college for three different schools, will have a chance to show off his well-rounded game and smooth operation.”
If Sanders or Gabriel see the field this season, the pressure will be on to deliver. With two first-round picks in next year’s draft, the Browns are well-positioned to target a franchise quarterback if needed.
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