Total Pro Sports
Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are embracing what figures to be a long competition to become the Browns’ 2025 starting QB.
Sanders and Gabriel have both been present for the Browns’ rookie minicamp.
The Cleveland Browns got their first look at their new quarterback depth chart during rookie minicamp over the weekend when both rolled into town.
And while initial reports indicated that Sanders was far superior to Gabriel, it turns out that may not have been the case.
Despite Gabriel being taken higher in the 2025 NFL Draft, Browns’ beat writer Zac Jackson recently discussed how the two quarterbacks look against each other and stated Sanders has looked better throughout the rookie minicamps.
“In just throwing the ball, it’s not close — [it’s] Shedeur Sanders,” Jackson said in regards to the battle between Gabriel and Sanders.
“This is rookie minicamp. No pads, no full-speed competition, nobody coming to knock your head off. They go both pick up a ball and throw it; it’s no question.”
On the other hand, Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland and The Land on Demand made his case for Gabriel.
“I thought, [on] both days, Dillon Gabriel looked a little bit better,” Grossi said.
“He throws a tight spiral, he throws a beautiful ball, he’s very assertive. He knows the pocket. You could tell that even though they’re not rushing. He just has a pocket presence.”
While many believe Sanders has the upper hand through the rookie minicamp, he still has to compete against two veteran quarterbacks, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.
Both Gabriel and Sanders spoke with media members over the weekend, and reporters asked each young QB questions about the other.
“Yeah, I love it. You know, I love it because of who it is,” Gabriel said.
“I think just for us both, you can learn from one another. But also, it’s not just us two in the room. At least for right now, it is, but going into the year, Kenny [Pickett], Joe [Flacco], and even Deshaun [Watson] — just a bunch of guys who played a bunch of ball that we can all learn from one another.”
Sanders also faced questions about Gabriel.
“Cool. Yeah, even normal,” Sanders said of his early interactions with Gabriel.
“He’s a real cool guy overall. You could tell he always have a great mood. He’s always in a good mood. I only been around two days though, but he always has a great mood. But overall, I could tell he’s a pretty good person.”
There is still a long way to go before the Cleveland Browns make their final decision.
