A tale of two rookies is unfolding in Cleveland, with Shedeur Sanders facing an uphill battle for playing time while the quarterback drafted before him, Dillon Gabriel, has the clear upper hand. Sanders, once projected as a potential first-round pick, fell to the fifth round where the Browns took him with the 144th pick. This was after they had already selected Gabriel in the third round. This has set the stage for a rough path for Sanders in a crowded quarterback room that also includes veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. He’s been given very few opportunities to work with the first-team offense during training camp, and now faces an added hurdle with recent reports of an injury.
The Draft Day Drop: A Surprise for Sanders
The 2025 NFL Draft was a roller coaster of emotions, particularly for the quarterbacks. It began with Cam Ward being selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans, a move that surprised few after his stellar collegiate career at Miami. He was followed in the first round by Jaxson Dart, who was picked by the New York Giants. The quarterback narrative continued in the second round, but not for Sanders. Instead, it was Tyler Shough who went to the New Orleans Saints. As the draft progressed, the once highly-touted Sanders saw his name fall further and further down the board. The Browns, looking to address their quarterback situation, had already traded up to take Dillon Gabriel from Oregon in the third round with the 94th pick. It wasn’t until the fifth round, with the 144th overall pick, that Sanders’ name was finally called by the Cleveland Browns. This dramatic fall was the first sign of the challenges to come for the talented signal-caller.
A Crowded Room and Limited Opportunities
Sanders’ arrival in Cleveland placed him at the bottom of a crowded depth chart. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski has a clear vision for the quarterback competition, and it seems Sanders isn’t a significant part of it at the moment. The team has been giving most of the first-team reps to the veterans, Flacco and Pickett, with Gabriel receiving a notable number of opportunities as well. This leaves Sanders with very limited time to prove his worth. The situation is further complicated by a recent report that Sanders is dealing with arm soreness, an issue that has held him out of training camp drills. For a rookie trying to make an impression and climb the depth chart, missing valuable practice time is a major setback.
A Different Path for Dillon Gabriel
In stark contrast, Gabriel’s journey to Cleveland has been one of opportunity. Drafted 50 picks earlier than Sanders, Gabriel has been given a more significant role in the quarterback competition. While he’s been working with the second and third teams for most of camp, he’s also received reps with the first-team offense, which is something Sanders has rarely had. Gabriel’s impressive college career at Oregon, where he set an all-time career FBS record with 155 touchdowns, earned him the respect of the Browns’ coaching staff. The team’s general manager, Andrew Berry, has been very complimentary of Gabriel, calling him a “very accurate” and “poised” player. While Gabriel is also dealing with a hamstring injury, which has caused him to miss some action, his path has been a more favorable one.
The Receiver Situation
On the offensive side of the ball, the Browns are dealing with some injury concerns among their wide receivers. Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman will not play on Friday in the team’s first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. This decision seems to indicate that the team views them as crucial players who they don’t want to risk to injury. Jeudy, coming off a breakout season, is the team’s undisputed number one receiver, while Tillman appears to have locked down the number two spot. Their absence on Friday provides an opportunity for other receivers to step up and make an impression, but it also means that none of the quarterbacks will have the chance to work with the team’s top two receiving options in a game setting.
A Glimmer of Hope for Sanders?
While the road ahead for Shedeur Sanders looks challenging, there is a glimmer of hope. The NFL is a league where things can change quickly. Injuries happen, and quarterback competitions can be fluid. The Browns’ current quarterback situation is far from settled, and if Sanders can get healthy and make the most of the limited opportunities he’s given, he could still make a case for a roster spot. He’ll need to impress during preseason games and demonstrate the skills that made him a prolific passer in college. However, with the Browns having four quarterbacks on the roster, the team could face a tough decision on who to keep when it comes time to finalize the 53-man roster. For now, Sanders’ NFL journey is off to a rocky start, but his story is far from over.
