Shedeur Sanders shares his thoughts on Dillon Gabriel following the NFL draft

Bond Between Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel

Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel might be rivals on the field, but the new Browns quarterback has developed a strong friendship with Gabriel.

When asked about Cleveland’s third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders shared that he and the 24-year-old Gabriel are “really cool,” referencing moments from his fascinating journey as a former Colorado QB.

“It was all cool,” Sanders mentioned in an interview, expressing admiration for Gabriel’s approach to dealing with adversity. “I like how he manages the negative media attention he gets. He stays positive, which is great.”

This off-season, the Browns added veteran quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, while dealing with starter Deshaun Watson’s injury issues, leading to Gabriel being selected with the 94th pick on the second day of the NFL Draft last month.

Sanders, who had a more contentious draft experience, had to wait until the 144th pick for his name to be called.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke about Gabriel, emphasizing that the team viewed him as a solid addition. “We felt like his price was right given the draft landscape. He’s a player we believe can enhance our stock,” Berry noted.

Gabriel, who concluded his college career at Oregon, faced scrutiny regarding the team’s quarterback dynamics.

“The more I’m asked, the more it just creates tension in the team,” Gabriel expressed. He acknowledged the importance of maintaining a healthy quarterback room, mentioning that they all want to contribute positively to the team.

As it stands, no starter has been determined since the spring workouts, although Pickett, who was a first-round draft choice in 2022, appears to hold an edge in the competition.

“It’s challenging to gauge after just the first practice in organized activities, but I can say that Pickett is emerging as a frontrunner for the starting job,” a report stated.

Pickett, now 26, was traded to the Browns from the Eagles after his Super Bowl win, while Flacco, at 40, has returned for a second stint with the team.