CLEVELAND, Ohio — When the Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the comparison to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seemed almost too obvious to ignore. Both are lefty Hawaiian quarterbacks who excel in quick decision-making and accurate ball placement. But there’s one massive difference that could determine Gabriel’s NFL trajectory: the offensive systems they’re operating in.
As Orange and Brown Talk host Dan Labbe pointed out, Tua’s success in Miami has come in a specific offensive environment that bears little resemblance to what Kevin Stefanski runs in Cleveland.
“I think about the way Tua has succeeded is in this kind of spread Miami offense with a bunch of speed everywhere, a bunch of playmakers. The ball comes out quickly and on time. It is about processing and that’s not really what the Browns are doing here,” Labbe explained. “They’re not going to have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.”
This scheme mismatch creates a fascinating tension. Gabriel’s greatest strength — his processing speed and decision-making — thrives in spread systems that create clear reads and open throwing lanes. But Stefanski’s offense historically relies on condensed formations with multiple tight ends, potentially creating a square peg/round hole scenario.
Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot highlighted this potential conflict: “Is that going to be playing to his strengths where he does have the heavier personnel, two tight ends a lot of times, three tight ends a lot of times there might be one receiver. So this is not anything resembling a spread right now.”
The question becomes whether the Browns will adapt their scheme to maximize Gabriel’s talents or expect Gabriel to adapt his game to fit their established system. NFL history shows both approaches can work, but the most successful teams often modify their schemes to highlight their quarterback’s strengths rather than force-fitting a signal-caller into a predetermined system.
This creates a fundamental strategic question for Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. If Gabriel demonstrates in practice that he’s the most talented quarterback on the roster, would they be willing to shift toward more spread concepts to maximize his effectiveness? Or will they maintain their tight end-heavy approach and expect Gabriel to make the adjustment?
For Gabriel, his 5-foot-11 frame presents another wrinkle in this scheme discussion. In spread offenses, the wider splits between offensive linemen and more diverse receiver alignments naturally create better throwing lanes for shorter quarterbacks. In condensed formations with multiple tight ends, those lanes become more congested, potentially exacerbating concerns about batted passes.
As Cabot noted during practice observations, “we did see him get one ball batted down by Mason Graham in practice during an OTA (practice). And that’s the thing that teams are probably going to try to do to him.”
The Browns’ offensive identity has been built around a strong running game complemented by play-action passing and tight end utilization. Gabriel’s college success came in more open systems that emphasized quick reads and distributor-style quarterbacking. Bridging that gap will require flexibility from both the coaching staff and the player.
What makes this situation particularly intriguing is that the Browns clearly valued Gabriel’s mental approach enough to select him in the third round. That suggests they see a pathway for his success in their system, even if it’s not immediately obvious to outside observers.
For the complete breakdown of Gabriel’s fit in the Browns offense and his competition for the starting job, check out the full episode of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.
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Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Orange and Brown Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.
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