The Browns have suddenly raised the heat in their QB room. With 5 QBs ready to roll on the field, HC Kevin Stefanski is busy with comparisons. An injury-ridden Deshaun Watson wants to come back. 40-year-old Joe Flacco wants his shot at redemption. 26-year-old Kenny Pickett wants to establish himself as a franchise quarterback. Rookies, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, also want to win the starting job as early as they can. While there is a long way to go yet, we are getting reviews from analysts who have seen these players.
Draft Buzz’s Lennox Tate compiled the scouting report for the Browns third-round pick (94th overall) before the draft. And it projects Gabriel as the obvious choice of Kevin Stefanski. With three years of experience in UCF, two years in Oklahoma, and a final year in Oregon, the rookie has excelled in different systems. His adaptability is top-notch.
The Browns need someone who can throw on target and play consistently on time. Dillon Gabriel fulfills that. Tate noted, “Gabriel’s ability to process information pre-snap and manipulate defenders with his eyes stands out in ways that matter for Sunday football.” But he is not perfect, there is a roadblock, too… his height!
Dillon Gabriel’s scouting report on Draft Buzz (by Lennox Tate) just screams Kevin Stefanski quarterback.
“Gabriel’s ability to process information pre-snap and manipulate defenders with his eyes stands out in ways that matter for Sunday football.”
He discusses how the… pic.twitter.com/I80Dr8CL2A
— The Dawgs – A Cleveland Browns Podcast (@thedawgspodcast) May 26, 2025
As per the NFL combine, the rookie stands tall just above 5-foot-11. However, will that become a hurdle? Only Kevin Stefanski can answer this question. The height has never proved to be the deciding factor in performance. Even Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson is not 6 feet tall. Moreover, the SB LIX winner, Jalen Hurts, and the SB LVIII runner-up, Brock Purdy, are also just above 6 feet. Purdy even signed a massive 5-year, $265 million contract extension last week.
The Browns could hugely benefit from the rookie’s ability to transition from different playbooks. From 59.3% pass completion in the first year at UFC, he jumped to 68.6% in the final year. Even in Oklahoma, his completion rate dropped to 62.7% in the first year, but rose to 69.3% in the subsequent year. In 2024, the lone season at Oregon, he recorded a magnificent 72.95% completion rate.
However, Kevin Stefanski will want some time before making the huge announcement. He has plenty of other explosive players as well. But there are some issues with the offense, too.
Kevin Stefanski predicted to extend veteran TE
The Browns are fed up with mediocrity. They want results and, more importantly, trophies. This approach is reflected in the 4-year $160 million deal signed with DE Myles Garrett. However, the franchise sidelined another veteran, TE David Njoku. He has played 8 seasons for them already. Back in 2022, he signed a four-year, $56.75 million contract extension till 2025.
credit: social media
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan claimed that the loyal tight end is next in line to sign a contract extension. And the Browns could make an announcement soon. He wrote, “We settled on David Njoku, who is entering the final year of his contract in 2025. If Njoku can stay on the field, it could result in a career year, which will help him when he eyes a new deal next offseason.” That’s right.
While Kevin Stefanski is fond of the TE, the injuries make him a bit of a question mark. Following a questionable challenge in the week 2 game against the Jets in 2019, Njoku fractured his wrist, which kept him out for the remainder. Even last year, he suffered a grade 3 pedal sprain and missed 3 games. If they could somehow control his injuries, the results could be magnificent.
In 2023, when he started 16 games, the most in his career, the tight end had 81 receptions for 882 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. With the renewed focus on assembling a game-winning roster, will he retain his spot in the team’s future? The question looms large.
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