The Cleveland Browns have a quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel that is drawing intense scrutiny from the media due, at least in part, to the unique storylines it has created.
Both players were excellent college quarterbacks for several years, though particularly in 2024, when they were among the most discussed players at the position given the success they each achieved and the prominent programs for which they started -- Sanders for Colorado and Gabriel for Oregon.
But despite the fact that most of the nation's top draft experts picked Sanders to come off the board in the first round, or early on Day 2, neither he or Gabriel was a particularly high draft pick. Cleveland selected Gabriel at the end of the third round and Sanders near the top of the fifth round.
Shedeur Sanders Browns
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Neither player makes a huge amount of money given their draft positions, and neither is even guaranteed to start in Week 1, as the Browns are rebuilding and brought in both Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett during the offseason. Most NFL analysts project the team to be at, or very near, the bottom of the league standings in 2025, which is another reason media would not typically pay so much attention to the likes of Sanders and Gabriel.
But given Sanders' slide and his national celebrity, plus the fact that Gabriel is also well known and was a surprise pick by the Browns at the point in the draft they selected him, the two QBs have drawn extensive coverage through rookie minicamp and early into team workouts.
Nothing is likely to change that before Cleveland names a starter and determines where Sanders and Gabriel will slot in on the depth chart -- but even then, their competition is likely to remain a story throughout 2025, and perhaps as long as they are teammates.
DJ Siddiqi of SportsCasting spoke with Sanders on Sunday, May 18, and asked him specifically about his experience with Gabriel thus far, as well as for his impressions of his teammate/competitor.
“Everything’s been cool," Sanders said. “He’s a cool person. I like how he handles situations, especially just the negative media that’s coming his way. I’m just happy he’s positive, he’s able to handle everything. We’re truly cool."
The relationship between Sanders and Gabriel is likely to garner significant attention in the months and years ahead, particularly if/when Cleveland names one the starter over the other.