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Everyone was surprised when the Cleveland Browns drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in a third-round draft pick, and Shedeur Sanders continued to fall on the NFL draft committee.
Perhaps a bigger surprise is that when Sanders was taken away by the franchise two rounds later, he created a room full of quarterbacks with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and also competed for the starting job.
As Sanders draws national attention, Gabriel has been in the shadow of new teammates when it comes to reporting.
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Shedeur Sanders watch quarterback Dillon Gabriel at the rookie small training camp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Imagn)
But when asked about the feeling of making Sanders a teammate, the Heisman Trophy Finalist provided the perfect answer for Cleveland-area reporters.
“I love it,” Gabriel replied Saturday. "You know, I like who it is. I think it's just for both of us, you can learn from each other. And, it's not just two of us in the room.
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Watson has not thought of any game this season after he reattacked his Achilles during his recovery last season.
Gabriel was asked about NFL fans who have compared his rep at rookie mini camp with Sanders, and the result is another right team-first answer.
"I think the more questions I get asked, it just divides the team," he said. "For me, we're not only in a room that fills us - Kenny, Joe and Deshaun. For us, we know the importance of a healthy QB room. And, you want to be a part of the team."
Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Rookie Little Training Camp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, Ohio. (Imagn)
"How do you create an environment every day where everyone can do the best? That's just pushing each other, natural talent. Naturally, it's healthy. For us, we all do our things and everyone wins."
Just as Sanders acknowledged that quarterback play is certainly the highest storyline in the NFL, Gabriel knew that if he wanted to get a starting job in Week 1, he would have to be at his best.
"I only know one way to prepare," Gabriel said. "I only know one way to work, and that's the starter. You know, I played a lot of ball and had a lot of experience, so I'm going to use it to my strengths."
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel spoke with the media during rookie mini camp on off-road mortgage campus. (Ken Blaze-Imagn image)
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As of now, Flacco's job is likely to have lost access to training camp given his offensive history with head coach Kevin Stefanski. Just two seasons ago, Flacco stood out from the couch and included Stefanski's offense in the playoffs, a miraculous feat that won his comeback player of the year. Stefanski was awarded the coach of the year.
But, since the comparison and criticism between Gabriel and Sanders seems natural after this year’s draft.
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