Browns had secret timeline with Dillon Gabriel while going public with CU Buffs football legend Shedeur Sanders before NFL draft

The Browns secretly courted Dillon Gabriel before shocking the world and selecting the Oregon quarterback in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft. Cleveland was public about their interest in Colorado Buffaloes football legend Shedeur Sanders before he was taken with a fifth-round flier.

ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported the Browns’ secretive timeline with Gabriel, leading to one of the most memorable draft misdirections ever at No. 94 overall.

“Gabriel was in a group of top prospects the team hosted on top 30 visits in early March. The cohort included Sanders, but Gabriel's inclusion was not reported at the time -- the team website only named Sanders, Penn State edge Abdul Carter and Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter -- and went under the radar. Cleveland's top decision-makers also traveled to Eugene, Oregon, for a private workout with Gabriel and got an up close look at him during the Senior Bowl, as multiple Cleveland coaches participated in the all-star event. Berry and Stefanski were also in Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl,” Oyefusi wrote.

As the Athletic's Zac Jackson relayed, Gabriel is the only QB safe from being cut by Cleveland as things currently stand.

Shedeur, meanwhile, is in danger of being cut by the Browns before the season even starts.

“Sanders landed in a place where he’s no sure thing to even make the roster, given that he’ll likely open training camp fourth on the depth behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel. (Deshaun Watson is also on the roster but currently rehabbing an Achilles injury.) But he says he’s willing to do whatever it takes to earn a roster spot,” Pro Football Talk’s Michael Davis wrote.

Based on how things have played out, it seems more likely than not that there was at least some collusion going on in the predraft process to, at minimum, humble Sanders.

Being so secretive with Gabriel before drafting him several rounds before anyone believed he was worth a pick is too unusual not to at least consider that possibility.