The Cleveland Browns made headlines by selecting Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel with a third-round pick, a choice that certainly caught many off guard. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders experienced a notable drop during the NFL draft but eventually found a home with the franchise, leading to a competitive atmosphere in the quarterback room alongside Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.
As Shedeur garnered national attention, Dillon found himself somewhat overshadowed by his new teammate in the media. When a Cleveland reporter asked him about having Sanders on the team at Rookie Minicamp, Gabriel’s response was enthusiastic. “I love it,” he said. “I think we can learn a lot from each other. Going into this year, we have a lot of experienced guys – Joe, Kenny, and even Deshaun – all of whom we can gain knowledge from.”
Deshaun Watson is likely not in the mix for this season after undergoing treatment for an Achilles injury. As Gabriel faced comparisons to Sanders during the minicamp, he offered another thoughtful, team-centered response. “If those kinds of questions keep coming up, I’d rather focus on the team aspect,” he noted. “We’re all in this together, and a healthy quarterback room is critical for us.”
Gabriel spoke about fostering a supportive environment where everyone thrives, emphasizing that pushing each other and healthy competition is essential. He recognized the quarterback battle as a key storyline for the upcoming preseason but also expressed his determination to secure a starting position. “I know how to prepare,” he stated. “With my experience playing, I plan to use that to my advantage.”
Looking ahead to training camp, Flacco appears to have an advantage given coach Kevin Stefanski’s previous success. Just two seasons ago, Flacco stepped in and led the team into the playoffs, earning Stefanski a Coach of the Year award. And yes, the comparisons between Gabriel and Sanders seem inevitable, especially given their ties from this year’s draft.
