Well, this year’s draft turned into a rollercoaster ride, tossing surprises left and right. The Jacksonville Jaguars ignited the draft, trading up for Travis Hunter. Snubs and sleepers made headlines, but Dillon Gabriel’s journey followed a familiar script. The Browns, surprisingly, drafted Gabriel ahead of Shedeur Sanders, who fell down to the fifth round. Their draft day noise already talks about how things might shake out in Cleveland. While Sanders walks in with buzz, Gabriel carries baggage. One glaring weakness significantly impacted his potential earnings, costing him a staggering $5.1 million and turning that dream into hope.
Look, Dillion. Gabriel’s 5’11 frame has always been a concern, but the notion that his height will stop him from getting drafted early was a pure myth. And the Browns proved it by getting him in the 3rd round, 94th overall pick. And even the Dawgpost IG reported that Nathan Zegura said that Dillion was the number two QB on the Browns’ list after Cam Ward. “He said Gabriel wins the way Kevin Stefanski wants his quarterback to win. Great decision maker, accurate from the pocket, can throw on the move from both directions, excellent pocket movement.” If that was the case, then why wasn’t Dillon a first-round pick?
Turns out his height was what pushed him down the ranks. Crazy, right? Zegura said, “If Dillon Gabriel is 6’3”, he probably is the number two [overall] pick in this draft.” Now, isn’t that weird to think that four inches could make that big of a difference? But yes, one thing is for sure: Dillion Gabriel did lose a chance to bag a massive NIL number, but how? Well, he could have gotten 7.8 million if the Browns had picked him in round two, but now he is stuck with 2.7 million. So, yeah, that’s the only blow he had to face.
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Look, Dillon Gabriel’s success in Cleveland isn’t just about the stats. Sanders, despite pre-draft hype, clashed with the Browns’ cautious offensive scheme. Insiders noted Sanders’ tendency to hold the ball, resulting in 10 interceptions his senior year and a whopping 94 sacks over two seasons. Gabriel, conversely, presented a cleaner profile. He threw fewer interceptions—never more than seven in a single season—and boasted a stellar 160.9 passer rating across stints at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
Even head coach Kevin Stefanski firmly supported the pick. Dismissing media speculation, he viewed Gabriel as a perfect fit, not a second choice. “We really felt strongly about Dillon throughout this process,” Stefanski said. “He’s a really strong, really, really good prospect… We think he’s an excellent player and felt like he was the most appropriate player to pick for both.” Some questioned Gabriel’s 5’11″ height, but Stefanski brushed this aside.“There’s quarterbacks, different shapes and sizes,” he said. “You have to be able to move in the pocket… change arm angles. All that comes innately… and he finds a way to get it done.”
Cleveland’s offense is built around mobility. Even with Joe Flacco’s late-career success in 2023, the Browns prioritized movement, designing plays with rollouts and moving pockets. Gabriel excelled in these situations in college, completing 29 of 39 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns while on the move, showcasing his ability to hit receivers outside the designed routes. This approach perfectly fits Stefanski’s vision: controlled aggression, mobility, and composure under pressure.
But looks like Dillion Gabriel’s path to the QB1 spot isn’t that straight.
Shedeur Sanders’ Browns admission puts Dillion Gabriel under pressure
Shedeur Sanders’ surprising fall to the 144th pick in the NFL Draft left many stunned. Snapped up by the Cleveland Browns on the final day, he’s already setting ambitious goals. “I’m trying to bring Cleveland a Super Bowl,” he declared. But his aspirations extend beyond the gridiron. Sanders aims to uplift the city’s youth, stating, “Off the field, I want to bring more hope and positivity to the city, and connecting with young people is one of the best ways to do that.” This approach is winning over Cleveland quickly.
But we all know that positivity wasn’t that easy with all the backlash and doubts. Everybody made things worse for Shedeur after the NFL combine; those ‘brash’ and ‘arrogant’ tags made him go down to the 5th round. However, it looks like that impression is finally fading. NFLRookieWatch hit IG with an exciting update on the Browns’ QB1 situation. “Shedeur Sanders reportedly has a “legitimate chance” at being the Browns QB1 for their week one game of the regular season. Several NFL scouts reportedly believe Sanders is the ‘most talented’ QB in the Browns QB room but will have to show he understands the intricacies of an NFL playbook”.
Well, even Ravens wide receiver and Shedeur Sanders’ hail mary catcher in an overtime win against Baylor, LaJohntay Wester, reflected on the same: “I was disappointed that they did him like that. I know Shedeur is going to get in the lab. He’s going to work hard, and he’s going to win that job in Cleveland.” And now, finally, analysts are seeing what he is capable of. “One source close to Sanders says that the NFL ‘brought out a villain’ in Sanders and will regret making him wait as long as he did. The Browns rookie QB is going to be SPECIAL .”
No wonder that’s the case. When a team misses out on an exceptional talent like Shedeur Sanders, regret follows. He had an exceptional college career—50 games, 1,267 completions (70.1%), 14,353 yards, 134 touchdowns, and only 27 interceptions—and is already prompting second-guessing from other teams. Such prolific production is rare, making his late draft status even more remarkable.
On Speak, Keyshawn Johnson voiced unwavering support for Shedeur Sanders, championing him for both popularity and the starting quarterback position. However, regarding the Super Bowl victory, he appeared to shift his stance. “Yes, the Browns will look absolutely smart. I want to say it loud and clear. I’m back at Shedeur. I don’t need people telling me that I’m hating on Shedeur, because that’s not the case, but I’ll say it again. I don’t want him talking about the Super Bowl.”
So, what should Sanders focus on? Johnson believes he should concentrate solely on “winning the starting quarterback job. I just wanted to say that loud and clear because over the weekend, people, they came for me. It was like I’m hating on Deion’s son, and I’m doing this. I’m like, All I’ve been doing is supporting him from day one.” And that’s surely the case; we all saw how Keyshawn stood up for him after the NFL Combine’s snub.
Now, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are going to get in a fierce QB battle. Let’s see who finally takes the reins with the Browns.
The post Dillon Gabriel’s $5.1M Loss Confirmed in Major Flaw Exposé as Shedeur Sanders’ Fate Announced appeared first on EssentiallySports.