Cleveland Browns Evaluate QB Rookies Sanders, Gabriel Amid Veteran Competition

The Cleveland Browns are currently navigating a competitive quarterback landscape featuring rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, both of whom participated in the recent rookie minicamp. While Gabriel was selected in the third round and Sanders in the fifth, there is debate over who performed better at minicamp, with some analysts favoring Sanders for his arm strength and others highlighting Gabriel's pocket presence and accuracy. Both rookies face stiff competition from veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett as they vie for playing time and potentially the starting role. The Browns' management is under pressure to quickly identify a long-term quarterback solution amid franchise rebuilding efforts and a stacked 2026 quarterback draft class that could influence their decisions. Experts warn that Sanders, despite promising initial impressions, risks being a "one-and-done" if he fails to demonstrate immediate value, given the team's history of swift changes and the looming free agency of key veterans. Financially, the rookies' contracts are modest, easing the Browns' flexibility as they evaluate their quarterback options.