Honestly, if you told a Cleveland fan two years ago that the team would be pinning its hopes on a 5-foot-11 Oregon legend and Deion Sanders’ son—at the same time—they’d have probably asked for a refund on their season tickets. But here we are. The 2025 season for the Cleveland Browns felt less like a professional football campaign and more like a chaotic social experiment. By the time the dust settled on a 5-12 record and Kevin Stefanski packed his bags for Atlanta, the dillon gabriel shedeur sanders browns era had become the weirdest chapter in a franchise history that is already basically a library of weirdness.
It all started with that wild weekend in April 2025. Deshaun Watson’s Achilles was a mess, and Andrew Berry decided to "take two bites at the apple." He grabbed Dillon Gabriel in the third round and then, in a move that set the internet on fire, took Shedeur Sanders in the fifth.
Most people thought it was a joke. Two rookie quarterbacks? In the same draft?
The Dillon Gabriel vs Shedeur Sanders Training Camp Battle
The vibes in Berea during the summer were, frankly, bizarre. You had Dillon Gabriel, the most experienced college quarterback in history, trying to prove his 5-foot-11 frame could survive an NFL pocket. On the other side, you had Shedeur, the polarizing "Prime" heir, falling to the fifth round and playing with a massive chip on his shoulder.
Gabriel actually won the job initially. People forget that. He was methodical. He knew the playbook inside and out. Stefanski loved his "processing speed," which is coach-speak for "he doesn't make me scream at the headset as much." Gabriel started the season 1-5, which sounds terrible, but he was playing behind an offensive line that was essentially a collection of revolving doors.
Then came the Baltimore game in Week 11.
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Gabriel took a nasty hit and ended up in concussion protocol. That was the moment everything changed. Shedeur Sanders stepped onto the field, and the stadium didn't just cheer; it erupted. It was the kind of energy Cleveland hadn't felt since... well, maybe never.
Breaking Down the Numbers
While the win-loss record was ugly, the individual stats tell a story of two very different players:
- Dillon Gabriel: 59.2% completion, 937 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs in 6 starts.
- Shedeur Sanders: 62% completion, 1,480 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs in 6 starts.
Shedeur had the higher ceiling, but he also took sacks at a rate that made scouts wince. Gabriel was safer, but he lacked the "it" factor to overcome a bad roster.
Why the Browns QB Experiment Failed in 2025
You can't blame the kids entirely. The Browns' offense was a wreck. Jerry Jeudy didn't look like a WR1, and the offensive line was decimated by injuries to guys like Jack Conklin and Wyatt Teller. Honestly, Patrick Mahomes would have struggled to find a rhythm in that environment.
There's also the weird dynamic of having two rookies in the same room. Usually, you have a veteran mentor. The Browns had Joe Flacco for a bit, but mostly it was just Gabriel and Sanders looking at each other. To their credit, they were professional. Shedeur actually defended Gabriel when fans started booing him, saying it wasn't helping the team. That's a level of maturity people didn't expect from the Colorado kid.
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But the coaching staff was clearly torn. Stefanski seemed to prefer Gabriel’s stability, while the front office—and certainly the fans—wanted the Shedeur show. When you have two quarterbacks, you usually have none. That old cliché proved itself true in Cleveland once again.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Browns Quarterback Room
The biggest misconception is that Shedeur "beat out" Gabriel because he was better. In reality, Gabriel’s injury forced the hand of a coaching staff that was already on the hot seat. Once Shedeur showed he could generate "explosive plays" (NFL jargon for "throwing it deep and praying"), there was no going back.
The media focus on the Deion Sanders connection also overshadowed the fact that Dillon Gabriel was actually a solid, if limited, NFL backup. He’s the kind of guy who will have a 10-year career as a high-end No. 2. Shedeur is the gamble. He’s the "boom or bust" prospect that keeps GMs awake at night.
The Deshaun Watson Shadow
We have to talk about the $46 million elephant in the room. Throughout the whole dillon gabriel shedeur sanders browns saga, Deshaun Watson was just... there. Recovering. Making more money than the rest of the QB room combined.
Rumors are now swirling that Watson might actually compete for the starting job again in 2026 because his contract is basically unmovable. Think about that. A team with two young, developing QBs might go back to a veteran who hasn't played winning football in years. It’s peak Browns.
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What Really Matters for 2026
The Browns are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with the 6th overall pick. They need a left tackle. They need a wide receiver. They probably need another quarterback if they aren't sold on Shedeur as the "franchise" guy.
New reports suggest that if they hire a guy like John Harbaugh (who is currently the favorite for the job), he’s going to want his own guy. That puts both Gabriel and Sanders in a precarious spot. Gabriel is under contract for peanuts, so he’ll likely stay as a backup. But Shedeur? He doesn't seem like the type to sit quietly on the bench if the team drafts a new "savior" at No. 6.
Actionable Insights for Browns Fans
If you're trying to figure out where this team is going, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Head Coach Hire: Whoever takes over will determine if Shedeur gets a real "Year 2" jump or if he’s trade bait.
- The Post-June 1 Cut on Watson: If the Browns finally swallow the cap hit and release Watson, it shows they are finally committing to the youth movement.
- The Draft Strategy: If they pass on a QB at pick 6 and take a tackle like Kelvin Banks Jr., it’s a massive vote of confidence for Shedeur.
The dillon gabriel shedeur sanders browns experiment was a rollercoaster that ended in a crash, but it wasn't a total loss. They found out that Shedeur has the stones to play in a tough market, and they found out Gabriel is a reliable pro. Now, they just need to find a way to actually win some football games.
If you’re watching the 2026 offseason, expect the Browns to be the most active team in the trade market. They have too many quarterbacks and not enough wins. Something has to give.
Next Steps for Following the Browns QB Situation:
Keep a close watch on the NFL Scouting Combine reports in February. Scouts will be leaked information about how the new Browns coaching staff views Shedeur’s "tape" versus his "potential." Additionally, monitor the waiver wire for veteran "bridge" quarterbacks; if Cleveland signs a guy like Sam Darnold or Andy Dalton, it's a signal that they don't think either Gabriel or Sanders is ready to lead a playoff charge in 2026.