It was not precisely a secret that the Cleveland Browns have been going to have to handle their quarterback scenario within the 2025 NFL Draft. It is usually not an enormous shock that they ended up with Shedeur Sanders.
The shock was the way in which all of that was dealt with.
As an alternative of taking Sanders within the first or second spherical (as might need been anticipated), they took him when he slid right down to the fifth spherical, and after they’d chosen a unique quarterback — Dillon Gabriel — within the third spherical.
It was unconventional to take two quarterbacks within the center rounds, and creates fairly a log-jam on a roster that already had Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson.
It was additionally a bit complicated, and it might be simple to conclude that Gabriel, as a third-round choose, might need been essentially the most confused out of anyone.
Gabriel talked about his response on Saturday in the course of the Browns’ rookie camp, and it may not be what you anticipate.
“Yeah, I like it. You recognize, I like it due to who it’s. I feel only for us each, you possibly can be taught from each other. But in addition, it’s not simply us two within the room. No less than for proper now [during rookie minicamp] is, however, you recognize, going into the 12 months, Kenny [Pickett], Joe [Flacco] and even Deshaun [Watson], only a bunch of fellows who performed a bunch of ball that we will all be taught from each other.”
It is usually value declaring that what he says to the media and what he really believes deep down could possibly be two very various things, however he undoubtedly is saying all the proper issues. If you end up a third-round choose at quarterback, particularly on a crew that has not discovered a constant starter in many years, you might be in all probability entering into with the expectation of finally being a starter. Or at the least having an opportunity to compete for it.
On this case not solely did the crew take anyone else simply two rounds later, they took one of the polarizing and outstanding quarterbacks within the class that’s going to command a lot of the consideration.
There may be nonetheless very clearly going to be an open competitors among the many veterans and rookies, and from a sensible standpoint Gabriel needs to be beginning increased on the depth chart than Sanders. He was, in any case, the upper choose. Cleveland already instructed all people they suppose he’s a greater quarterback, simply based mostly on draft order. That doesn’t imply it is going to essentially play out that means on the sphere.