An ESPN analyst has delivered a verdict on both Shedeur Sanders and Dillion Gabriel’s chances of landing the starting QB role in Week 1, and it might not be what you expect.
Since the Browns added both Gabriel and Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, the two prospects have been the focus of what has become a crowded quarterback room. Sanders, in particular, who experienced one of the most unexpected slides in NFL Draft history, drew even more attention with a speeding violation last week.
Of course, Sanders is not the first player cited for speeding, but the incident only brought unwanted attention at a time when the rookie is gearing up to battle for a starting job. Among his competitors is Gabriel, and while many believe the Browns will start a veteran like Joe Flacco, at least one analyst has broken down the battle between the rookies.
Shedeur Sanders vs. Dillon Gabriel: Who Has the Edge to Start for the Cleveland Browns?
NFL analyst Field Yates spoke on ESPN Cleveland’s “The Daily Grossi” podcast about how the past couple of weeks, Sanders’ performances at rookie mini camp have looked good.
“It’s not a surprise to me that Shedeur’s accuracy, ball placement, timing, touch on throws was all really good,” explained Yates.
He continued to highlight Sanders’ talent throughout his college career, pointing out his impressive accuracy as a pocket passer. Sanders completed nearly 70% of his passes at Colorado, ranking among the nation’s top quarterbacks. Of course, moving forward, it is all about how his playing style translates to the NFL, and to find out, he’s going to need to show he deserves the starting job.
At the top of the discussion, Yates spoke on the several reasons why Gabriel took the bulk of the reps at minicamp, explaining that of the two rookies, he believes the Browns feel that Gabriel has the better chance to secure a role as “either a part-time starter or an excellent, excellent number two quarterback.”
Gabriel also had a standout college career, starting at UCF and Oklahoma before finishing at Oregon. Over his college career, Dillon Gabriel threw for over 18,000 yards and 155 touchdowns, finishing among the top active quarterbacks nationally in both categories. In his final season with the Ducks, he threw for over 3,800 yards and 30 touchdowns, demonstrating both consistency and adaptability across multiple programs. His experience and production at the college level make him a strong contender in the Browns’ quarterback competition.
The rookie battle begins next month, and according to Yates, one of them is really going to need to pop if they want to earn the role. The question of whether Sanders or Dillon could really win the starting job is yet to be answered, but most think it’s unlikely.
Can Sanders or Gabriel Win the Browns QB Battle?
Yates made his stance clear, saying, “In order for a rookie to start Week 1, that player is going to have to be head and shoulders, unequivocally, way better than the other three.”
He added that starting a rookie has consequences beyond on-field performance, noting the added scrutiny and expectations from fans and media.
As an insider, Yates pointed out that several media outlets would criticize the Browns for starting a rookie in Week 1 if that player struggles. Alternatively, if the Browns start someone like Flacco and he delivers mixed results, Yates noted, “You signed a 40-year-old Joe, and that’s pretty much what you expected from him.”
Of course, the public backlash will be relentless should either Sanders or Gabriel win the job and fail to meet expectations. For now, however, we’ll have to wait and see how the battles play out at training camp.