The Cleveland Browns’ two-man rookie quarterback competition between third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and fifth-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes football legend Shedeur Sanders, may not even have any bearing on who Kevin Stefanski chooses.
For all we know, Joe Flacco, the man who led the team to a postseason appearance during the 2023/2024 season and a former Super Bowl MVP with respect league-wide, was the plan since the moment he signed.
Sanders and Gabriel may be playing for a backup role, or at worst, a roster spot. Shedeur’s is not guaranteed, particularly as a fifth-rounder whose negative pre-draft reports may have made him a pariah in certain NFL circles.
As for how that competition is going, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot claimed any rumors that Sanders was far ahead of Gabriel based on their performances from the team’s rookie minicamp were overblown.
“They liked Gabriel better in the draft, in part for his excellent processing skills and decision-making, and Sanders will have to come from behind — maybe all the way from No. 4 but from at least No. 3 — if he hopes to win the job,” Cabot wrote.
“He didn’t beat out Gabriel hands-down like some have reported — it was much closer to a tie — but he looked very good and more than held his own.
“It was a great start for both, and a nice base on which to build their case in the QB derby, which will bring out the best in all four of them.”
Reports on Sanders will always have variations because of how polarizing he is. And how powerful his family is, which Deion Sanders has proudly and publicly made clear