A former NFL receiver gives Shedeur Sanders a big edge over Dillon Gabriel in the Browns QB battle.
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A former NFL receiver gives Shedeur Sanders a big edge over Dillon Gabriel in the Browns QB battle.
There are many theories out there about how the Cleveland Browns should handle their quarterback situation and some are calling for the two rookies to battle it out to give the franchise a clear view of their future.
The Browns quarterback battle includes rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, as well as veterans Kenny Pickett — a former first-round pick — and 40-year-old Joe Flacco.
Former NFL receiver Cecil Shorts III believes the Browns should let the rookies battle it out in camp and let them have a full season of experience.
“Let them battle it out, choose one and ride with them and see what they can do. And I’m not big on switching quarterbacks,” Shorts said on The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. “I hate that. Let the rookie battle all 17 games; if he’s healthy, battle all 17 games. Let him develop. Let him get better.”
Shorts also has a clear preference on which rookie he believes should be drawing the starts.
“To me, Shedeur is way better than Dillon,” Shorts said. “Dillon wasn’t on anybody’s list. Let’s call a spade of spade. Nobody was thinking about Dillon Gabriel being drafted in the first three rounds. Nobody. Wasn’t on anybody’s list. Nobody was talking about him on TV at all. Come on, let’s be real here.”
Browns Did Homework on Dillon Gabriel
Drafting Gabriel in the third round with pick No. 94 was seen as a reach by the Browns, despite his very decorated college resume.
Gabriel was the most experienced quarterback in the draft. He began his college career at UCF, where he completed 554 of 913 passes for 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns over three seasons.
He transferred to Oklahoma in 2022, adding 6,828 yards and 55 touchdowns on 496 of 751 passing attempts across two seasons. Gabriel finished his collegiate career at Oregon in 2024, completing 326 of 447 passes for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns. His 187 total touchdowns set a new all-time FBS record.
The selection of Gabriel became even more debated when Cleveland selected Sanders 50 picks later in the fifth round. However, the Browns are confident in the work they put in leading up to picking Gabriel.
“We spent a lot of time with Dillon throughout this process, brought him in right after the combine, did obviously the private visit and workouts out in Eugene (Oregon),” Browns GM Andrew Berry said. “Decorated college career, very accurate, very poised, throws with anticipation, good mobility. We just thought he had a really well-rounded game.”
Shedeur Sanders Facing Uphill Battle With Browns
Sanders faces an uphill battle as he looks to wrangle the starting quarterback job. He’s functioned mostly as the No. 4 quarterback, although the Browns have yet to release an official depth chart.
Part of that is due to Sanders needing to play catch-up, per Albert Breer.
“I think Shedeur — and this isn’t any fault of his own — had a lot more ground to cover than Dillon Gabriel. Because of that, it’s harder to put him out there with the first team,” Breer said on 92.3 The Fan.
Sanders also needs to address some off-field concerns. He’s been cited for speeding twice since arriving in Cleveland, generating unwanted attention and slowing the positive momentum he built early on with the Browns.