The Cleveland Browns made headlines during the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting not one but two quarterbacks – Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders – both of whom are now battling for early positioning in rookie minicamp.
Although Gabriel was taken ahead of Sanders, it’s the fifth-round pick who is generating the most buzz at team facilities.
Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic fall was the biggest story of draft weekend.
Once seen as a surefire first-round pick, Sanders fell all the way to Day 3, making his selection one of the most unexpected slides in recent memory. Still, the talent that made him a highly-touted prospect is reportedly showing up at Browns headquarters.
“I’m impressed with the way Shedeur threw the ball, like it jumps off his hands and spins it,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic stated.
“Now, I don’t think it’s about how it’s covered. It’s more about what we’ve seen, right? Like this is what an NFL quarterback is supposed to look like. So in the realm of it, it’s day one. It’s step one.”
Sanders’ polish and poise haven’t gone unnoticed – not just by media, but by the coaching staff as well.
Jackson described how closely new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave have been monitoring both rookie quarterbacks.
“I’ll remember one thing. I’m watching from behind, and Tommy Reese, the new offensive coordinator, and Bill Musgrave, the new quarterbacks coach, they are never further than we are from either rookie right there,” Jackson added.
“So at one point, I kind of walked over to get a different angle. Then [Kevin] Stefanski walks over. It’s Shedeur’s turn.
“He calls him over. He relays something to him. Shedeur goes in the huddle, like that’s what they’re evaluating. Take the play call, command the huddle, get everyone lined up. It’s day one. The other stuff they’ll see. They know he can throw.”
While both quarterbacks are in the early stages of development, Sanders is clearly standing out.
Gabriel, who was a Heisman finalist and one of the most accomplished college quarterbacks in 2024, is currently being overshadowed by the rookie from Colorado.
When asked directly who has looked better so far, Jackson didn’t hesitate. “It’s not close….Shedeur Sanders,” he stated.
“They’re on the field; they break the huddle from team stretch and team jog, and they both pick up the ball and throw it; it’s no question.”
Although draft order suggested Gabriel would have the edge heading into camp, early signs point to a real competition brewing – and Sanders is making it clear he intends to fight for the starting role.
The Browns have not officially announced how the quarterback depth chart will shake out, but as minicamp progresses, Sanders continues to do what evaluators expected months ago: look like an NFL quarterback.
What are your thoughts on the quarterback situation in Cleveland?
Looking at the big picture, what type of NFL career do you envision Sanders having???
