Browns' rookie Dillon Gabriel gets promotion in QB competition

The Cleveland Browns have two rookie quarterbacks.

Only one has seen any time with the first-team offense, and it's not Shedeur Sanders.

On Saturday, and not for the first time this week, Dillon Gabriel took the field at the helm of the 1s.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson reported the latest news Saturday, with Gabriel getting the first-team time in an 11-on-11 period. Meanwhile on Saturday, Sanders missed practice with a throwing arm injury.

This shouldn't be entirely shocking, given the circumstances.

Gabriel was chosen at No. 94 overall in the NFL Draft, near the end of the third round. Yes, it was a lot higher than he was projected to go, but clearly, Cleveland liked him.

Sanders went at No. 144.

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From the start, Gabriel has had that leg up on his fellow rookie.

Beating out veterans Joe Flacco and/or Kenny Pickett is a different story. A Pickett injury has opened a bit more time for Gabriel, too.

Flacco is 40, and he'd only be a stopgap option. It'd probably be better for Cleveland long-term if Gabriel is ready to get real time at QB this season to prove whether he belongs going forward or if they'll need to draft a quarterback higher up next year.

Gabriel was a college star, from UCF to Oklahoma to Oregon.

He holds the FBS record for career touchdowns and is second all-time in passing yards and total yards, behind just Case Keenum.

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The lefty doesn't have the biggest arm, but he's always been steady and accurate. Sometimes, that's all a team need.

Gabriel clearly has tons of high-level football experience. The NFL is a different beast, but if anyone was going to be prepared by their college experiences, it'd be him.

A bit of practice time with the 1s doesn't mean Gabriel will be starting in Week 1. But it does give him a chance to get real time this year, and it shows the Browns believe in him. That's something worth noting.

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