The Cleveland Browns made an early investment in former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, selecting him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to compete with veteran Joe Flacco and journeyman Kenny Pickett. But as camp unfolds, Gabriel is slipping further down the depth chart.
Even fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders out of Colorado is starting to separate himself.
According to ESPN Cleveland’s QB Tracker, Flacco, Sanders, and Gabriel all took part in team drills on Friday. The biggest takeaway? Just how rough Gabriel looked.
With Pickett sidelined, Gabriel completed just 3-of-14 passes, threw an interception, and failed to reach the end zone. Meanwhile, Sanders connected on 70% of his throws and tossed a touchdown. Flacco, the seasoned veteran, added three more scoring passes of his own.
It’s a concerning sign for Gabriel, who doesn’t seem to be catching up to the speed of the NFL game. That’s a stark contrast to the version of him we saw at Oregon, where he was one of the nation’s most efficient quarterbacks.
In his final season in Eugene, Gabriel completed 72.9% of his passes for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. What we’re seeing now in Berea is the complete opposite.
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But Gabriel’s issues go beyond the stat line. There’s a lack of rhythm and command in his game that’s hard to ignore. While Sanders looks composed and decisive, Gabriel appears to still be searching for his footing in the Browns’ offense.
There’s still time — and preseason snaps — for him to turn it around. But each missed throw is starting to chip away at the confidence Cleveland had when it drafted him.
With Sanders trending up and Flacco offering stability, Gabriel can’t afford another outing like this.
The Browns aren’t expected to name a backup anytime soon, but Gabriel’s window to make an impression is shrinking fast. If he doesn’t find his groove soon, it won’t just be the QB2 spot on the line — it could be his spot on the roster.