The Cleveland Browns’ three-day rookie minicamp drew a lot of takes from NFL analysts and fans alike, including fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders “winning” the camp battle ahead of fellow rookie and third-round draft selection Dillon Gabriel.
However, a longtime and trusted Browns insider gave their take on what really happened.
Spoiler: Everyone can temper their “Sanders over Gabriel takes,” per this analysis.
Browns Insider On Shedeur Sanders vs. Dillon Gabriel
In Mary Kay Cabot‘s piece, she starts by acknowledging that the quarterback position can be “in the eye of the beholder,” and that’s certainly a narrative with the Browns depth chart. Gabriel was selected ahead of Sanders, but is also under 6 feet tall with a lower ceiling.
That said, Cabot seems more impressed with Gabriel’s pre-snap handling of the offense than Sanders’.
Did #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders really top Dillon Gabriel in rookie minicamp and they prepared to join the vets this week? Here's how I saw it —> https://t.co/sOZsIgLL7v
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot)
“Because Gabriel has taken so many snaps and started an FBS-record 63 games for three different teams, he excelled at directing traffic and getting the ball out quickly,” Kay Cabot wrote.
Scouts lauded Gabriel for his experience, as he’s played a lot of college football. He may not have the greatest measurables, but he’s got an extremely high football IQ. That’s not to say Sanders doesn’t, though. Cabot mentions that he also looked comfortable, but perhaps was more appealing post-snap.
“Sanders, their fifth-round pick out of Colorado, also looked comfortable running the offense, but more so from a post-snap standpoint, where he dazzled with some big plays and red zone touchdowns,” she wrote.
Then Kay Cabot discusses arm strength, saying both had “excellent” velocity and that Gabriel was “a little more consistent,” whereas Sanders put better “spin on the deep balls than some of the shorter routes.” She also mentions that Sanders had more “wow plays” than Gabriel.
Something worth noting, though, is that Sanders stayed out of the interception column while Gabriel had two, including one to the Browns’ second-round draft choice, linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
“Both quarterbacks made good decisions and were accurate most of the time. Their footwork on dropbacks looked smooth, and they looked comfortable working under center as well as out of the shotgun. Sanders had to recover from one errant snap, but quickly scooped the ball and made the play,” Cabot adds.
Shedeur Sanders has the brovado needed to be the franchise QB for the Cleveland #Browns.
pic.twitter.com/kyyvVtgZfk— Ossacin’s Ducktail (@OssacinDucktail)
Another intangible is how both signal callers handle the media. Kay Cabot says they handled both of their first podium interviews well and mentions that it was important because the Browns are “evaluating everything.”
From here, Cabot says that, in the voluntary offseason program, Gabriel will still go ahead of Sanders, and may even go ahead of veteran Joe Flacco. She lists the pecking order as Kenny Pickett, Gabriel, Flacco, and Sanders.
Additionally, Kay Cabot mentions there may be some urgency to choose a starter and get him ready as soon as possible due to a tough schedule. The Browns will face two AFC North games right off the bat and a stretch where four of the next five games are on the road, including one in London.
PFSN has rated the Browns No. 32 in the power rankings with a projected record of 4.5-12.5. Overall, Cabot compliments Sanders but tempers the analysis by saying that Sanders was far and away the better player.
“He didn’t beat out Gabriel hands down like some have reported — it was much closer to a tie — but he looked very good and more than held his own. It was a great start for both, and a nice base on which to build their case in the QB derby, which will bring out the best in all four of them,” she concludes.