Former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s post-draft celebration lasted less than 24 hours. Just one day after selecting him with the No. 94 overall pick, the Cleveland Browns added further competition to the quarterback room by drafting former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the No. 144 overall selection.
While Sanders reportedly impressed those in attendance at Browns rookie minicamp, at least one prominent ESPN NFL analyst still believes in Gabriel’s talent. On the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky described the former Oregon quarterback as a “really talented thrower” and emphasized that he “shouldn’t be overlooked.”
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky Calls Browns QB Dillon Gabriel ‘Really Talented Thrower’
When asked about the Browns’ third-round quarterback selection, Orlovsky said he “really liked Gabriel” during his NFL Draft scouting process. During the College Football regular season, Orlovsky believed that Gabriel was “a sneaky guy who could get into the early second round.” However, that cooled during the College Football Playoff.
According to Orlovsky, “The playoff was such a poor representation of who he was, I felt. It just did not go well, obviously, they were boat-raced by Ohio State. That calmed me a little bit on Dillon, but he’s played a ton of football.”
"I really like Dillon Gabriel and I thought he could get taken early in the second round..
He's a really talented thrower and he shouldn't be overlooked" ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive https://t.co/uc6FK1jRYd pic.twitter.com/6rzCzuPb4s
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
In Gabriel’s final collegiate game, the Oregon Ducks lost 41-21 to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Gabriel completed 29 of 41 pass attempts, racked up 299 passing yards, and finished with a 2-0 TD-INT ratio. However, he was sacked eight times, and the majority of those stats came in garbage time after Oregon fell behind 34-0 in the second quarter.
Orlovsky Compares Gabriel to Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Orlovsky went on to compare Gabriel to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, saying, “He has a lot of similarities to a player like Tua, not only because he’s left-handed, but because of the ball-distribution, the anticipation, and layering throws over [defenders].”
He added, “I don’t think Gabriel is a guy people should overlook. He’s a really, really talented thrower, and by all accounts, it seems like Shedeur has had a good start. One of those guys has got to be the person.”
With 40-year-old Joe Flacco and journeyman Kenny Pickett the only experienced quarterbacks on Cleveland’s roster, it’s only a matter of time before the rookies are thrown into action. With a high likelihood they’re picking early in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns need to evaluate Gabriel and/or Sanders before then.
It’s too early to know whether Gabriel or Sanders will get the first opportunity, but I’d expect both to get their chances this season. While the Browns invested more draft capital into Gabriel, many consider Sanders the more talented prospect. May the best rookie win.
