The Cleveland Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL Draft, ahead of Shedeur Sanders by two rounds, viewing Gabriel as the more promising quarterback prospect. However, in the team’s first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday, Sanders demonstrated a stronger showing by completing 11 of 18 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns to Kaden Davis.
Late in the second half at Bank of America Stadium, cameras captured Gabriel and injured veteran Deshaun Watson seated on the sideline, intently watching Sanders perform. Many viewers interpreted Watson’s and Gabriel’s expressions as dejection while witnessing Sanders’ successful debut as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
“Shedeur Sanders slowly ending careers lol,” one fan commented with a picture of Watson and Gabriel.
The fan’s tweet quickly went viral, accumulating 4.6 million views, with others on social media sharing similar reactions to Sanders’ performance. Sanders remained in the game until just over two minutes remained in the third quarter before being replaced by Tyler Huntley.
Criticism Mounts Over Browns’ Handling of Quarterback Prospects
Daryl Ruiter, speaking on The Ken Carman Show, voiced significant criticism of how the Browns have managed Dillon Gabriel’s development, suggesting the team’s expectations for Gabriel are unrealistic given his draft position.
“The Browns aren’t treating Dillon Gabriel like a third-round pick… They’re treating him like a first-round pick. There are practices with a full, healthy quarterback room where he’s first up in 11-on-11, and that’s not just training camp… So that’s why I’ve been so harsh on him.”
Ruiter proposed what he believes should be the Browns’ ideal quarterback lineup for the regular season, which notably excludes Sanders:
“It should be Joe Flacco, Week 1. Then, if circumstances dictate, you go to Kenny Pickett. Then, if circumstances dictate, you go to Dillon Gabriel…”
Decision to Keep Two Rookie Quarterbacks Defies Conventional Wisdom
John Breech of The Athletic reported that Browns general manager Andrew Berry declined multiple trade offers for Gabriel after acquiring Sanders, leading to a rare scenario where Cleveland entered the season with two rookie quarterbacks on the roster. This situation is reminiscent of Washington’s 2012 roster that featured both Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins in their rookie years.
Earlier in the week, amid injuries to both rookie quarterbacks during training camp, the Browns signed former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley, expanding their quarterback group to six players.
Implications for Browns’ Quarterback Future and Team Strategy
The Browns’ approach to managing their quarterback roster highlights underlying tensions and uncertainties about who will lead the team moving forward. While the organization invested high draft capital in both Gabriel and Sanders, the preseason performance and reactions from veterans like Watson have intensified scrutiny. Fans and analysts are closely watching how the Browns resolve this quarterback competition, knowing it will significantly impact the team’s prospects for the regular season and beyond.