The Cleveland Browns made waves in the NFLDraft-0.html target=_blank class=infotextkey>2025 NFL Draft by selecting quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders within three rounds - a bold move now showing early signs of payoff. At rookie minicamp, the duo displayed an evolving partnership that blends rivalry with camaraderie, offering glimpses of how Cleveland might redefine quarterback development.

Gabriel’s Perspective: Collaboration Over Ego
Gabriel, Oregon’s record-setting passer and 2024 Heisman finalist, immediately embraced sharing the spotlight. "Having Shedeur here pushes us both," the third-round pick told ESPN. "His pocket awareness? The way he reads defenses? Those are tools I want in my game."

The 24-year-old left-hander emphasized the value of Cleveland’s veteran presence - Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rehabbing starter Deshaun Watson - while hinting at a generational shift. "This isn’t about replacing anyone. It’s about building something new," Gabriel said, referencing his own transfers between UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

Sanders’ Redemption Arc Begins
Once projected as a first-round talent, Sanders’ slide to pick #144 became draft weekend’s biggest mystery. Critics cited mechanical inconsistencies and the ever-present shadow of his Hall of Fame father Deion Sanders. Cleveland’s front office saw differently.

"His tape tells the real story," GM Andrew Berry noted, pointing to Sanders’ NCAA-leading 74% completion rate at Colorado. "When the pocket collapses, he doesn’t panic - he creates." The fifth-rounder arrived with quiet determination, spending his first night reviewing playbooks. "Stats don’t lie," Sanders told local media. "I’ll let my work answer the noise."

Strategic Competition Takes Shape
With Watson sidelined by an Achilles tear and Flacco/Pickett battling for temporary starts, Cleveland’s QB room has become a laboratory for growth. Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s unconventional approach - having Gabriel and Sanders alternate reps with both first- and third-team units - is yielding early dividends.

"These two challenge each other without the toxicity," Stefanski observed after watching back-to-back 11-on-11 drills. "Dillon’s helping Shedeur with progressions. Shedeur’s showing Dillon new release angles. That’s rare."

Dual Development Pathway
Analysts initially questioned drafting two QBs, but the Browns’ logic emerges:

1. Gabriel’s Immediate Upside
   Polished from 49 college starts, his quick release and pre-snap adjustments could earn him early-game snaps.

2. Sanders’ Long-Term Potential
   At 21 with elite improvisation skills (37 TDs/10 INTs in 2024), he’s a developmental project with Pro Bowl ceiling.

"Having multiple young arms lets us tailor their growth," QB coach Josh McCown explained. "Dillon’s mastering NFL timing. Shedeur’s refining mechanics. Different paths, same destination."

Training Camp Outlook
As offseason programs intensify, the rookies’ symbiotic relationship continues evolving. Gabriel recently hosted Sanders for film sessions, while Sanders introduced Gabriel to his personal mobility coach.

"People want this to be a rivalry," Gabriel smiled during a joint press appearance. "But watch us in meetings - we’re teammates first. That’s how you build a winning culture."

Sanders nodded in agreement before adding: "Come September, the goal’s simple: Make Cleveland proud we’re both here."

With organized team activities underway, the Browns’ quarterback experiment appears less a gamble and more a calculated reinvention of how NFL teams nurture talent at the game’s most vital position.