The Cleveland Browns put together an interesting 2025 NFL draft. While they added some great talent at positions of need, including two quarterbacks throughout the draft, there was one move that has left many confused.
In the third round of the draft, the Browns opted to select Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 overall pick. Gabriel was not expected to be drafted that high. Many thought he would be a fourth or fifth round pick. Some had him as a sixth round prospect.
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Despite the lower projections, Cleveland took him in the third round. After that, Andrew Berry and the front office decided to trade up in the fifth round to the No. 144 overall pick to select Colorado standout quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Following the two quarterback moves in the draft, Ashley Bastock of 92.3 The Fan issued some subtle criticism about the “head-scratching” move to draft Gabriel.
“The biggest head-scratcher pick for me was taking Dillon Gabriel at [no.] 94,” Bastock wrote. “Just because I don’t know that anyone else was going to take him there that high. Maybe they had some intel [that] he may have been gone early on Day 3. It’s a move that I think makes less sense when you consider they come back the next day and take Shedeur Sanders, too.”
Cleveland Browns GM Andrew BerryKirby Lee-Imagn Images
Gabriel had a good 2024 season with the Ducks and led his team to being one of the best in the nation. They were unable to get past Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, but the season was still an impressive run.
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He completed 72.9% of his pass attempts for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while also running for 149 yards and seven more scores.
With the quarterback moves made in the draft, the Browns now have five quarterbacks on their roster. Gabriel and Sanders are joined by Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Deshaun Watson.
Both rookies have an uphill battle ahead of them, but Cleveland has plenty of talent at a position it badly needs an answer at.
Related: Kevin Stefanski Answers the Question Everyone’s Asking About Shedeur Sanders