Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel is not expected to be picked highly in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 24-year-old played at three schools over six years in college and holds the record for most games played by a Division 1 quarterback with 64.
His age and size are concerns, but one draft analyst thinks Gabriel should go earlier than expected.
Will Dillon Gabriel Be Picked on Day 2? One Analyst Thinks So
Gabriel spent the first three years of his college career at UCF. He threw for over 3,500 yards in his first two seasons and led the Knights to back-to-back bowl games. He played three games in his true junior season before breaking his left clavicle. The injury ended Gabriel’s season and his time at UCF.
He transferred to Oklahoma for the 2022 season and started 24 games over two years. He led the Sooners to a 10-2 record in 2023, throwing for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns. Gabriel announced he’d be transferring again after the season, and ended up at Oregon.
His final college season was Gabriel’s best, as he started all 14 games and led the Ducks to a Big 10 title and the College Football Playoff. He threw for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions en route to a third-place finish in Heisman voting.
He measured just over 5’11”, 205 at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, and is seen as a late-round pick by many experts. His experience is unmatched but other than his arm strength, Gabriel doesn’t have many physical traits to write home about, according to PFSN’s scouting report.
The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov recently interviewed CBS Draft Analyst Mike Renner and asked him about the Oregon quarterback. Meirov said, “You are the only person out there that I’ve seen that has a different quarterback three than most people, and that’s Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon…Why do you have him as QB3 in this draft?”
Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel is QB3 in this year’s class for @mikerenner_ — the only draft analyst I’ve seen with him ranked that high.
Here’s why: https://t.co/vAWAqQPHph pic.twitter.com/oWrudLeKD6
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)
Renner responded, “I think it’s more an indication of how much I dislike this quarterback class. I’m basically searching for anyone who can play at the NFL level. That’s what kind of class we’re in. It’s not searching for top-10 guys. It’s searching for a guy who, if I gotta throw him out there as a starter, he can handle it.
“With Dillon Gabriel, I think he can. One thing I learned from last year’s class is that experience and playing matters, and helps when translating to the NFL. He’s played more football than anyone else in college football history. 63 career starts. That’s more than even Bo Nix had. Bo Nix had the record last year. And then, dating back to high school, he started as a freshman. He had the Hawaii passing record.”
Renner noted that Gabriel beat out Marcus Mariota and Tua Tagovailoa for the Hawaii state passing record.
“Seen it all. Has an NFL-caliber arm. It’s stronger than Shedeur Sanders’ arm, truthfully.” Renner continued, “You watch them throw for throw, it is stronger than Shedeur’s. Obviously, not the caliber of Cam Ward’s, but it’s an NFL-caliber arm. Three different stops now between UCF, Oklahoma, Oregon. He’s played good football. He has the personality to win over a locker room very early on.
“I just think that if that guy gets thrust into a starting role ala Brock Prudy, I think he’ll be able to handle it. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a top 10 to 15 quarterback in the NFL. I’d be very surprised if he was, even with me saying he’s QB3 in this class. I just think that is a guy that’s capable of playing at the NFL level, and not looking like a fish out of water. To me, that’s worth a Day 2 pick, and that’s kind of where I have him in this class.”
Gabriel going before Jaxson Dart or Tyler Shough would be a shock. He’s not listed in PFSN’s latest three-round mock and is far down many quarterback ranking lists for this year’s class. He’s played a lot of football and proven he can win, but will his game translate to the NFL?
