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Shedeur Sanders Shining Brighter Than Dillon Gabriel? Cleveland Browns Quarterback Competition

After the second day of organized team activities with the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and one interception.
Arden Cravalho|
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, left, Dillon Gabriel, center, and Joe Flacco warm up during an NFL practice at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, left, Dillon Gabriel, center, and Joe Flacco warm up 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

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On the second day of the Cleveland Browns' organized team activities or OTAs, it seemed clear that former Colorado Buffaloes star Shedeur Sanders had the best practice of all the quarterbacks on the field. However, former Oregon Ducks star Dillon Gabriel emerged as a winner because he had the most reps (with veteran Kenny Pickett) of any of the quarterbacks.

Here are the recorded stats from Day 2:

Joe Flacco: 9-for-15 (60 percent completion rate) - one touchdown, zero interceptions
Kenny Pickett: 9-for-16 (56.3 percent completion rate) - zero touchdowns, zero interceptions
Dillon Gabriel: 11-for-16 (68.8 percent completion rate) - two touchdowns, one interception
Shedeur Sanders: 7-for-9 (77.7 percent completion rate) - three touchdowns, zero interceptions

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) listens to the play calling on the sideline during an NFL practice
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) listens to the play calling on the sideline 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

What stood out from Sanders was his efficiency and ball placement compared to the other three quarterbacks. Reports from practice in Berea detail an intense competition and that both Sanders and Gabriel are firmly in the mix to earn the starting job.

Gabriel was taken with the No. 94 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders followed him with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

There is plenty of debate and conflicting reports on who is leading the competition.

"I wouldn't be shocked to see Shedeur (Sanders) wind up winning the starting job coming out of training camp. I think he has a good a chance as any to surprise everyone... If this is an organic competition with a level playing field, he could be your starter in Week 1. No questions about it."
Louis Riddick on ESPN's Get Up
"I think we could see Shedeur play for the Browns. I'm rooting for him. I don't think Shedeur (Sanders) is better than Dillon (Gabriel)."
Kyle Long on CBS Sports
"He's in there early, he's getting his work done, he's working really, really hard. I like everything there is about Shedeur (Sanders)."
Coach Kevin Stefanski on ESPN Cleveland
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski watches during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Camp
May 10, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski watches during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Heading into the draft, the largest question mark surrounding Dillon Gabriel was his height. His pass in the video below gets batted down as it's hard for him to see over the offensive line at times.

Sanders, along with the other quarterbacks in the room, is aware that it's a competition for the starting job, but that doesn't mean that they don't respect respect for one another. The group wants to make each other better athletes at the end of the day.

“He’s (Dillon Gabriel) a cool person. I like how he handles situations, especially just the negative media that’s coming his way. I’m just happy he’s positive; he’s able to handle everything. We’re truly cool.”
Shedeur Sanders on via SportsCastinG

NFL 17-year veteran Joe Flacco may receive the short end of the stick when it comes to reps. As for Kenny Pickett, it seems he could be traded before training camp begins. Deshaun Watson suffered a second Achilles tear in January. While his status is up in the air, the Cleveland organization isn't ruling out a return sometime during the 2025 campaign.

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Arden Cravalho
ARDEN CRAVALHO

Arden Cravalho is a reporter for Oregon Ducks on SI. He has been writing extensively about college athletics beginning in 2018, specifically as the lead writer and editor for SB Nation's 'The Slipper Still Fits.' Arden is a graduate of Gonzaga University and brings a deep understanding of college sports to his writing. Residing in San Francisco, California, Arden is also a part of the California Golden Bears' athletic department as a Ticket Sales and Service Account Executive. His overall experience and dedication to college athletics are evident in his insightfulness and analysis throughout all of his work.

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