At long last, Shedeur Sanders was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.
The Cleveland Browns traded up to the No. 144 pick to select the Colorado star quarterback following an unprecedented slide. Before selecting Sanders, Cleveland already drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round, making the Browns’ quarterback room more competitive than ever. Here’s a look at the team’s updated depth chart.
Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel: Who’s the Best Fit for a Higher Spot in Browns’ QB Depth Chart?
2025 Cleveland Browns Depth Chart:
- Joe Flacco
- Kenny Pickett
- Dillon Gabriel
- Shedeur Sanders
-
Deshaun Watson
From Colorado to Cleveland!
Shedeur Sanders joining the QB room pic.twitter.com/KjkTb7jXae
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 26, 2025
The NFL Draft didn’t go entirely as expected for Sanders, but he’s officially found a new home with the Cleveland Browns. Once viewed as a top-5 prospect, Sanders saw his stock plummet due to concerns about his arm strength, sack rate at Colorado, and questions about his leadership style.
Despite the slide, Sanders’ poise, accuracy, and NFL bloodline still give him one of the most intriguing ceilings of any rookie quarterback in the 2025 class.
Cleveland’s gamble on Sanders could pay off in a big way. Deshaun Watson’s $230 million contract has been nothing short of disastrous. Watson has appeared in only 19 games over three seasons and is recovering from another Achilles injury, making his availability for Week 1 uncertain.
Meanwhile, Joe Flacco, who helped lead the Browns to the playoffs two seasons ago, turns 40 this year and is on a one-year deal.
Although Gabriel was selected earlier in the draft, Shedeur Sanders arguably brings a higher ceiling to the Browns’ quarterback competition. Gabriel, an efficient and experienced signal-caller from Oregon, offers a steady hand but doesn’t have the upside many scouts believe Sanders still possesses.
Sanders’ college resume is impressive. In 2024, he was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-American honors. His 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns last season showed his ability to command an offense at a high level, even while often playing behind a struggling offensive line.
Gabriel put together a stellar college career as well, but some experts believe his upside is more limited at the NFL level. Gabriel’s production was strong, but questions remain about his size, arm strength, and ability to consistently win from the pocket under NFL pressure.
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The Browns’ decision to draft two quarterbacks points to major uncertainty at the position. With Watson’s health in question and Flacco nearing the end of his career, there’s a real opportunity for one of the rookies to climb the depth chart quickly.
If Sanders can adjust to NFL speed and continue to prove doubters wrong, he has a legitimate chance to surpass Gabriel and maybe even push for meaningful playing time as early as 2025. For now, the battle between Sanders and Gabriel will be one of Cleveland’s most intriguing storylines to watch this offseason.
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