Dillon Gabriel Embraces Teaming Up with Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland QB Room

When the Cleveland Browns used the 94th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Dillon Gabriel, many assumed their quarterback plans for the weekend were set. But just 50 picks later, they surprised the football world again by selecting another quarterback — Shedeur Sanders.

Rather than seeing the move as a threat, Gabriel sees an opportunity.

“Yeah, I love it,” Gabriel said with a smile during rookie minicamp. “I love it because of who it is. We can both learn from each other — that’s the best part.”

The former Oregon signal-caller is no stranger to competition, and his response reflects a maturity rooted in experience. At every level, from high school to multiple stops in college, Gabriel has fought for playing time and embraced crowded quarterback rooms. The NFL will be no different.

“Right now, it’s just me and Shedeur in the room at rookie minicamp,” Gabriel said. “But once the season rolls in, we’ll be learning from Kenny [Pickett], Joe [Flacco], and Deshaun [Watson]. That’s a lot of experience. A lot of ball. You can’t ask for a better environment to grow in.”

With Watson still recovering from injury, the Browns’ quarterback room is deep — and now, incredibly diverse in both style and background. Gabriel, known for his quick release and decision-making, sees the value in collaborating with Sanders, whose poise and presence under pressure turned heads during his time at Colorado.

But for Gabriel, the true competition lies within.

“It’s not new to me,” he said of battling for a spot. “I’ve done it at every stop, and I’ve done it at every level. My competition is yesterday — how can I be better than I was yesterday? That’s where my focus is.”

Rather than tension, the Browns’ young quarterbacks are fostering a spirit of mutual respect and shared ambition — rare in a league that so often pits players against each other.

As the quarterback room begins to take shape in Cleveland, Gabriel and Sanders are proving that competition and camaraderie can co-exist — and that the path to greatness isn’t about outshining others, but outgrowing yourself.