The Cleveland ͏Browns stirred conversation during the 20͏25 N͏F͏L Draft by ͏selecting ͏two͏ quarterbacks—Dillon Gabriel in the third ͏round and ͏She͏deur Sande͏r͏s in the fifth.
While͏ Sanders’ fall in the draft and subsequent selection garnered more media attention, Gabri͏el addressed the perceived ͏overshadowing with a candid response during rookie minicamp.
Dillon Gabriel Addresses Shedeur Sanders Buzz, Emphasizes Healthy QB Room
The Browns’ rookie camp is underway as Gabriel and Sanders show their transitions into the professional game of football. While Sanders has garnered way more attention, Gabriel is not letting that get to him.
Fantastic response from Dillon Gabriel when asked about the Shedeur Sanders hype overshadowing things #Browns pic.twitter.com/Jrpmwpb2Af
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) May 10, 2025
“Yeah, I think the more questions I get asked like that, it just divides the team,” Gabriel said when asked about the buzz surrounding Sanders. “And for me, I think, we’re in a room full of not just us, but Kenny, Joe and Deshaun. And for us, we know how important a healthy QB room is, but also a team that you want to be a part of.”
Gabriel emphasized the importance of fostering a positive and competitive environment. “And how do you create an environment every single day where everyone can be at their best? And that’s just pushing one another, which talent naturally does. And naturally it’s healthy. For us, we all go do our thing and everyone wins.”
Despite being drafted two rounds earlier than Sanders, Gabriel’s selection was viewed as a surprise by many analysts who projected him as a Day 3 pick. However, he welcomed the addition of Sanders and highlighted the learning opportunities in a crowded quarterback room.
“I love it,” Gabriel said. “I love it because of who it is. I think just for us both, you can learn from one another, but also it’s not just us two in the room. At least for right now it is. But going into the year, Kenny [Pickett], Joe [Flacco] and even Deshaun [Watson], just a bunch of guys who played a bunch of ball that we can all learn from one another.”
On the first day of rookie minicamp, both Gabriel and Sanders split reps, with the former taking the initial team drill snaps. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski clarified that no depth chart implications should be drawn from practice order, noting that camp is both competition and instructional.
Gabriel, a six-year college veteran with 63 starts across UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, said his mindset remains focused: “I only know one way to prepare. I only know one way to work, and that is as the starter. I’ve played a bunch of ball and have a lot of experience, so I’m going to use that to my advantage.”
While Gabriel and Sanders progress through the Browns’ rookie minicamp, both rookies will have ample opportunity to prove themselves in the coming months as the Browns navigate an unsettled quarterback situation.