Cleveland Browns' Kevin Stefanski Reveals Quarterback Battle Goals, Evaluation

What makes a good starting quarterback? According to Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, being receptive to veteran perspectives may be one of the keys for former Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel to get the starting job over former Colorado Buffalo Shedeur Sanders, former Philadelphia Eagle Kenny Pickett, and NFL veteran Joe Flacco.

With the Browns' quarterback room being a highlight of the NFL offseason, Stefanski was prepared to answer related questions during the Browns' 25th Annual Foundation Golf Outing. Gabriel and Pickett were both playing in said tournament.

"Yeah, those guys are doing great," Stefanski said of Gabriel and Sanders. "They are both wired to get in early, stay late, put in whatever work is required. They're sponges in the meeting room which I think is really fun for me and my vantage point."

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, facing, chats with rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during an NFL practice at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Stefanski also opened up about something he's stressed since both Gabriel and Sanders were drafted to the Browns: their ability to glean from the experiences of both Pickett and Flacco. Both rookies were partnered with veterans for the Browns' OTAs workouts with Flacco mentoring Sanders and Pickett mentoring Gabriel.

"I get to sit there and watch the two young guys look over and there's Joe [Flacco], 40 years old, won a Super Bowl. There's Kenny Pickett, just going into year four, but first round draft pick that's been on a couple teams, won a Super Bowl last year. There's Deshaun [Watson], had a ton of success in his career. They can kind of feed off of all those guys. So that's the thing I'm really - it's fun to watch them get better sometimes just by listening," Stefanski said.

MORE: Oregon Ducks Lose To Oklahoma Sooners: Eliminated From Women's College World Series

MORE: NCAA Releases Statement On Controversial Home Plate Call, Anson Aroz Suspension

MORE: Cleveland Browns Reporter Disrespects Rookie Quarterback Dillon Gabriel

Head coach Kevin Stefanski, speaking at the #Browns foundation golf outing, on the QB room - especially the rookies Dillon Gabriel & Sheduer Sanders pic.twitter.com/k16t9rsRlr
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) June 2, 2025

When it comes to adapting to the Browns' calls pre-snap and prepping the huddle for the play, Gabriel said during the foundation's golf event with Cleveland Browns Daily that Oregon helped prepare him for the next level of guiding an offense.

"Living in it is a whole different deal," Gabriel said to Cleveland Browns Daily. "But you do it. You get comfy with it and really that's all pre-snap. Once you get used to that with cadence, because a lot of it is the clap. With college guys, that's the cadence of choice but now it's just verbal. There's a lot more alerts, checks, and kills that you're apart of but for the most part, you're introduced to it. At least I was at Oregon."

May 10, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) passes as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

That adaptability to listen and grow is something Stefanski continues to stress, as Gabriel fights for his place at the top of the depth chart.

"We often talk about leadership, there's also follower-ship and the ability to find that guy that I want to follow," Stefanski said. "I think all of that certainly you can get in this time of year and also that then goes to the season and as you get in your routine, really attaching yourself to a vet, those guys that end up playing ten years in this league, that's simply not by accident."