Dillon Gabriel Named Browns Backup QB over Shedeur Sanders

Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski announced that rookie Dillon Gabriel has officially been named the backup quarterback behind veteran Joe Flacco. This decision carries big implications for the franchise and pushes fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders down to third-string status.

The path to this moment was anything but straightforward. Dillon Gabriel battled through a nagging hamstring injury during the preseason, yet still managed to showcase the skills that made Cleveland believe in him as a third-round selection. His numbers tell a compelling story: 35-of-37 completions for 272 yards with one touchdown and one interception across two exhibition games.

Dillon Gabriel Emerges from Crowded Competition

The preseason work revealed a quarterback who takes care of the football and makes smart decisions under pressure. Dillon Gabriel demonstrated the kind of poise that wins over coaching staffs, even when his body was not operating at full capacity.

Meanwhile, Sanders posted respectable numbers of his own, completing 17-of-29 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. However, the completion percentage differential between the two rookies likely played a significant role in the coaching staff’s evaluation process.

What This Means for Dillon Gabriel Moving Forward

Stefanski made it clear that this decision came after the Browns’ coaching staff did an extensive evaluation of every possible angle. The coach emphasized how Dillon Gabriel continues to improve and develop his craft, suggesting the 24-year-old quarterback possesses the intangibles that separate good players from great ones.

“It’s such an all-encompassing evaluation,” Stefanski explained during his press conference. “Everything the guys did in the games was important. We also saw a lot of them out here in practice and how they are at their craft. He’s certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better. 

Final Thoughts

The Browns demonstrated their confidence in Dillion Gabriel by trading Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, effectively clearing the path for their rookie to assume the backup role. This move speaks volumes about how the organization views Gabriel’s potential and readiness to contribute if called upon.