The Cleveland Browns made a major decision in the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing in two rookie quarterbacks. Dillon Gabriel was the first signal caller taken in the third round, with Shedeur Sanders being drafted in the fifth round.
Andrew Berry and the front office have been searching for a long-term quarterback. This season, they have four quarterbacks fighting for the Week 1 starting job.
Currently, the most likely scenario would see Joe Flacco being the opening week starter. Kenny Pickett has been listed No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart to this point. Gabriel has come in and No. 3 with Sanders coming in at No. 4.
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Gabriel being drafted in the third round was a major surprise. Many had projected him to be a late-round pick.
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Simply drafting him in the third round was a clear belief from the Browns that he could be a franchise quarterback.
With that being said, one NFL executive has spoken out with some shade for the Cleveland rookie. That shade came from Gabriel’s height. He stands in at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds.
“He’s been a team captain since like middle school, been good everywhere he’s been,” an AFC executive said. “He’s a good player. It’s just that he’s tiny.”
During his college career, Gabriel found a lot of success. He may be short, but he has performed well on the field.
Throughout the 2024 college season with the Oregon Ducks, Gabriel completed 72.9 percent of his pass attempts for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also ran for 149 yards and seven touchdowns.
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Unfortunately, Gabriel is now dealing with some injury trouble during training camp. He is dealing with tightness in his hamstring that is forcing him to miss some action.
With Gabriel and Pickett dealing with hamstring issues and Sanders having some shoulder soreness, the Browns went out and added a fifth quarterback to the room. Tyler Huntley was signed on Monday.
It will be interesting to see if Gabriel can work his way onto the field in his rookie season. He has shown major potential on the field, but the questions about his size as an NFL quarterback will persist until he can prove them wrong.
As the preseason gets underway, Gabriel will be a name to watch closely in Cleveland.
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