Browns Quarterbacks Embrace Competition at Rookie Minicamp

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns‘ selection of quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft surprised many, as he was projected to be picked later. However, the pick quickly became less significant with the team drafting fellow quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round, who also experienced a surprising fall in the draft.

Sanders has stirred considerable interest in and around Cleveland since being drafted, while Gabriel expressed excitement about the addition of his fellow rookie. “I love it,” Gabriel said Saturday, before the Browns’ second rookie minicamp practice. “I love it because of who it is. I think just for us both, you can learn from one another, but also it’s not just us two in the room. At least for right now it is. But going into the year, we’ll have a bunch of guys who played a lot of ball that we can all learn from one another.”

On the first day of rookie minicamp, Gabriel and Sanders split practice reps, with Gabriel receiving the first few snaps in team drills. Head coach Kevin Stefanski downplayed the significance of the order, noting that the minicamp serves as a competition and learning experience, as well as a chance to evaluate the players overall.

Both quarterbacks transitioned to the professional level after successful college careers. Sanders played four years at FCS Jackson State and followed his father, Deion Sanders, to Colorado. Gabriel, after starting at UCF, also played at Oklahoma before transferring to Oregon, where he earned the starting role.

Despite the fierce competition for the starting QB spot, Gabriel stated that he trains as if he is already the starter. “I only know one way to prepare, and that is as the starter,” he noted. “I’ve played a bunch of ball and have a lot of experience, so I’m going to use that to my advantage.”

Gabriel, drafted with the 94th overall pick, feels at home as he starts this next stage of his career. In his first two days with the team, he has engaged in meetings and practices while learning the playbook. “I think this is definitely a place where I thrive,” Gabriel said. “Being able to get back in the building, it feels good to be part of a team environment, because that’s how you play the game of football.”

As competition unfolds during rookie minicamp, Gabriel and Sanders alternate taking snaps and working with different groups during practice. Stefanski indicated that the coaching staff aims to evaluate their performances thoroughly, from on-field actions to how they engage in the meeting and weight rooms. “We want to see how they work, so this is a total evaluation,” he emphasized.

Gabriel acknowledged the competition will not be new to him and believes that striving for improvement is key. “My competition is yesterday. How can I be better than I was yesterday? That’s what I’m focused on,” he said.