Whereas the day was full of snippets of Shedeur Sanders‘ reps on the Browns’ organized group actions Wednesday, the true information occurred off the sector as third-round rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel signed his rookie contract, in response to a group announcement. No contract particulars have been launched.
With Deshaun Watson coping with damage and the quarterback room consisting of solely a 40-year-old Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on his third group in as a few years, the Browns had been always linked to a rookie quarterback within the 2025 NFL Draft. Whereas many assumed that that quarterback would not directly or one other find yourself being Sanders, a traditionally unusual slide led to 5 different passers listening to their names referred to as earlier than Sanders. A kind of names was Gabriel’s, which got here at No. 94 total.
After six years enjoying school soccer (three at UCF, two at Oklahoma and one at Oregon), Gabriel solely obtained higher and higher, even after a left clavicle damage ended his time with the Knights. General, Gabriel proved to be an elite producer who might defend the ball and rating along with his arm or his legs. He went 46-17 as a starter with the Knights, Sooners and Geese, exhibiting a powerful means to choose up new programs shortly and successfully.
That, contrasted with Sanders, who has labored below the identical offense below the identical coach since highschool, may very well be a purpose that Gabriel’s identify has been seeing way more run in latest days as a contender for a task as QB1 or 2. One of many newest reviews we’d seen noticed Gabriel seemingly wanting just like the QB2 behind Pickett. The lefty appears to be making fast progress as he learns his fourth new offense in 5 years.
There’ll nonetheless be loads of time for Gabriel to problem Pickett or for Sanders to problem them each and even for Flacco to get again within the image. Regardless, Gabriel can now get his thoughts off contract negotiations and put all his efforts into soccer.
Gabriel is barely the third Browns rookie to place pen to paper to date. Right here’s how the remainder of the draft class is wanting:
Spherical 1, No. 5 (from Jaguars): Mason Graham (DT, Michigan) (signed)
Spherical 2, No. 33: Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA)
Spherical 2, No. 36 (from Jaguars): Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
Spherical 3, No. 67: Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Inexperienced) (signed)
Spherical 3, No. 94 (from Payments): Dillon Gabriel (QB, Oregon) (signed)
Spherical 4, No. 126 (from Vikings via Jaguars): Dylan Sampson (RB, Tennessee)
Spherical 5, No. 144 (from Patriots via Seahawks): Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
