Former NFL quarterback and current analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick seemingly confirmed how Cleveland Browns coaches view rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders during a recent appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program, stating that he knows the Browns are particularly “excited about Gabriel.”
For a piece published on Friday, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explained why “Gabriel has at least a slight edge over Sanders to make a legitimate push for the starting job” as Cleveland rookies prepare to report for training camp on July 18.
“His superpower in the competition is his computer-like processing speed and decision-making,” Cabot said of Gabriel. “During spring practices, including rookie minicamp, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, Gabriel looked solid and held his own…Thanks to his quick grasp of the terminology and playbook, Gabriel worked with the starters at times during OTAs and minicamp, and also received his share of 11-on-11s. Sanders didn’t get as many of those high-level reps in those sessions.”
The Browns made Gabriel a third-round draft pick before they took a flier on Sanders in the fifth round. Draft gurus such as Mel Kiper Jr. and Matt Miller had Sanders ranked much higher than Gabriel ahead of the draft, but Sanders’ alleged handling
of the predraft process impacted how teams viewed him this past spring.
Perhaps the biggest knock on Gabriel regarding his NFL future is that he’s listed at 5-foot-11 and may not even be that tall. It remains to be seen if he possesses the physical attributes needed to excel as an undersized pro signal-caller.
As of Friday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook continued to list veteran Joe Flacco as a -102 betting favorite to win Cleveland’s Week 1 starting job over Kenny Pickett (+200 odds), Gabriel (+500) and Sanders (+870). Cabot noted that it’s likely Flacco or Pickett “will emerge from camp as the Browns’ QB1,” but she interestingly added that both rookies “will make” Cleveland’s final roster.
Unless Cleveland holds onto all four quarterbacks through the end of August, either Gabriel or Sanders could potentially be a play away from seeing some action when the Browns open the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
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