Dillon Gabriel gives unexpected response to Browns drafting Shedeur Sanders amid trade rumors

The Cleveland Browns opened rookie minicamp this weekend with more quarterback drama than most teams would care to handle.

After selecting Dillon Gabriel with the 94th overall pick in the third round, the Browns turned heads by drafting Shedeur Sanders just 50 picks later, adding a second rookie quarterback to an already complicated depth chart.

Instead of reacting with hesitation, Gabriel welcomed the challenge.

“Yeah, I love it,” Gabriel told reporters, per Pro Football Talk. “You know, I love it because of who it is. I think just for us both, you can learn from one another. But also, it’s not just us two in the room. At least for right now [during rookie minicamp] it is, but, you know, going into the year, Kenny [Pickett], Joe [Flacco] and even Deshaun [Watson], just a bunch of guys who played a bunch of ball that we can all learn from one another.”

While Sanders has the bigger name and headlines behind him, Gabriel is bringing consistency, maturity, and starting experience to the room. Across stints at UCF, Oklahoma and finally Oregon, he started 63 college games and is using that experience to stay locked in on his process.

“It’s not new to me,” Gabriel added. “I’ve done it at every stop, and I’ve done it at every level.”

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But as much as the Browns value competition, they may not keep four quarterbacks on the roster for long. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler weighed in on NFL Live, suggesting a shake-up could be coming later this summer.

“The Browns got these four quarterbacks (that) they're going to roll with that for the next two to three months to see how it shakes out,” Fowler said. “Shedeur Sanders will have every opportunity to make his impression and to make this team. The Browns also look at quarterbacks like all positions: like currency, like value. They could trade one of these guys in August if they play well in the preseason.”

Gabriel, for now, is keeping a starter’s mindset — regardless of what happens next.

“I only know one way to prepare,” he said. “I only know one way to work, and that is as the starter.”

With Cleveland’s quarterback picture still far from clear, Gabriel’s calm approach might be exactly what the team needs as the competition heats up.