Dillon Gabriel arrived in Cleveland with little fanfare but plenty of curiosity, selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft—two rounds before Shedeur Sanders, who unexpectedly slipped to the Browns in the fifth.
With rookie minicamp now underway, both quarterbacks are already soaking in their first experience in orange and brown. Despite entering one of the NFL’s most competitive quarterback rooms, Gabriel remains focused.
Dillon Gabriel Addresses the Heated Broncos Rookie Battle With Former Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
Dillon Gabriel is fully embracing the challenge ahead in Cleveland, where the rookie quarterback is one of four vying for the starting job.
Taken No. 94 overall in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Gabriel brings the poise of a seasoned signal-caller, having started an FBS-record 63 games and accounting for a record-setting 188 total touchdowns in college. Despite the crowded room, including fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders, Gabriel’s focus remains unchanged.
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“I only know one way to prepare. I only know one way to work, and that is as the starter,” Gabriel said. “I’ve played a bunch of ball and have a lot of experience, so I’m going to use that to my advantage.”
Gabriel and Sanders—picked two rounds apart—have quickly found themselves at the center of attention. Sanders, once projected to be a first- or second-round pick, slid to the fifth, where Cleveland traded up to draft him. Gabriel said he welcomed the move.
“I love it. I love it because of who it is,” he said. “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, Joe, and even Deshaun, just a bunch of guys who played a bunch of ball that we can all learn from one another.”
Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett will join the quarterback competition during OTAs later this month. For now, Gabriel and Sanders are using the rookie minicamp to take early reps and adjust to the NFL environment.
Gabriel’s preparation reflects his mentality.
“How I approach it, I’m trying to beat yesterday. Myself yesterday,” Gabriel said. “Just any chance I can be 1% better than that. That’s how I look at it. And naturally, you play the quarterback position, only one guy can play. So there’s naturally going to have competition at all levels, and that’s why we’re in this game.”
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Sanders echoed that sentiment.
“It’s day by day. I just find something I want to perfect and just perfect it to the best of my abilities,” he said. “My job here isn’t to prove people wrong. I prove myself right.”
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