After Shedeur Sanders’ successful Cleveland Browns debut on Friday night in a 30-10 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers, Kevin Stefanski’s four-man quarterback battle is once again up in the air.
Before Sanders showed out, completing 14/23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, Stefanski had a clear path forward: start Joe Flacco, keep Kenny Pickett in waiting, develop Dillon Gabriel, and either cut Sanders or develop him at a snail’s pace that’d all but stall his career before it ever truly started.
Now, Sanders may force Stefanski’s consideration to start the “Grown QB.” And possibly reconsider Gabriel’s standing on the team.
Andscape’s William Rhoden deemed Gabriel Sanders’ “chief rival” for a roster spot, calling into question whether Browns GM Andrew Berry has room for both rookie signal-callers on the roster.
“If Sanders’ goal was to put pressure on the Cleveland Browns and on his chief rival for a roster spot, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, mission accomplished. A national audience that for months has waged a ferocious social media debate over Sanders’ merits as a quarterback saw a confident, self-assured rookie lead Cleveland to a 30-10 preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers,” Rhoden wrote.
After Jimmy Haslam distanced himself from the Sanders selection while speaking to reporters, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Gabriel was the franchise’s true chosen one.
The fans aren’t going to choose Gabriel now, though. Sanders is now a fan-favorite after looking competent under center and playing winning football. Nike is releasing ads about it. Cleveland is the center of the football world.
Would the Browns’ brain trust give up all that and choose Gabriel instead?
We’ll soon find out if it’s a linear choice.