Dawgs By Nature
After getting a look at Shedeur Sanders in week one of the preseason, Cleveland Browns fans had an opportunity to see their other rookie quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, take on the Philadelphia Eagles this week.
Gabriel came out poised, leading an impressive opening drive where he converted three third downs and finished it off with a touchdown. He finished the day completing 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards, with one interception and two sacks. Unfortunately, his one interception was a pick-six. Two Cleveland receivers were in the same area on the field, and Gabriel made a tight throw in between them. Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba made a nice play on the ball and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown.
There were a lot of positives in this game – his vision and accuracy have translated to the NFL, and he looked pretty comfortable overall. That said, some of the concerns about him entering the draft persist today. His size and strength will continue to limit what he can do, and some of his decision-making reminded you that he is just a rookie. The decision-making can certainly be improved as he gains more experience and becomes more comfortable running an NFL offense.
Let me know what you think in the comments – How did Dillon Gabriel perform in his first preseason appearance? What grade would you give the rookie’s performance?
