Smartness and football IQ. The Browns’ rookie minicamp was supposed to be the perfect opportunity for Dillon Gabriel to show how he could bring in these aspects that can’t really be coached. His being undersized would have merely been an afterthought had he accomplished this, but fate had a different twist in mind. While Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are tangled in a push and pull in order to establish themselves as the most relevant, another rookie stole the spotlight!

LB Carson Schwesinger got all the limelight during the rookie minicamp and showed everyone why he was the 33rd selection by the Browns. Here’s what happened. During seven-on-seven drills, former Oklahoma quarterback Gabriel dropped back to deliver a crucial pass, but Schwesinger jumped right in for a beautiful interception and scored a touchdown. There was no way of disrupting the interception return, as the players were not wearing pads, but the whole thing gave us a peek into his playmaking ability.

This was an important move for the linebacker, considering he hasn’t been able to otherwise grab much attention with other big names drafted by the Browns. The clip of Schwesinger’s interception was shared by Cleveland reporter Camryn Justice on X, who wrote: “#Browns LB Carson Schwesinger picks off QB Dillon Gabriel at rookie minicamp.” And within minutes, it was circulating across Browns’ X as fans dissected Gabriel’s footwork, decision-making, and poise—or lack thereof. Many discussed how bad a pass it was. It’s barely been a week into rookie minicamp, and Dillon Gabriel’s already getting a taste of NFL pressure. But on the other hand, it is also good news for the Browns.

Last season, the Browns recorded just four interceptions throughout their season. For their fans, that’s unacceptable. And so, having Schwesinger on their side can help them defensively. In fact, his best traits are his range, urgency, football IQ, and athleticism, and the Browns could use all of those. He is the perfect size for a modern linebacker (6-foot 2), 242 pounds, and can perform against a modern defense. The player is quick on his feet and has the ability to run with TEs and RBs. Additionally, Schwesinger knows how to quickly recognize and move towards the play, and that’s something we saw when he intercepted Gabriel’s throw. All that being said, the LB has some weaknesses that the Browns will look to fill in.

Think about his block deconstruction and the way he used to jam his shoulder into blockers last year. Those are areas his NFL team will look to help in. But for now, he shows promise. The timing is important too. He is showing off his abilities at a time when Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s availability is uncertain serious neck injury in October). However, the best part is that Schwesinger not only admires Owusu-Koramoah but also watches a lot of his tape. “He’s definitely one of the ones that you want to emulate, and me specifically, especially coming into this system,” Schwesinger said on Friday at rookie minicamp. “I plan to be able to pick his brain a lot and learn a lot from him.”

So it might turn out that Schwesinger could replace him. “That’s one of the best linebackers in the league,” added Schwesinger. Though they are yet to meet, the younger player hopes to emulate a similar physicality and speed.

While Schwesinger finally shone during camp, Gabriel hasn’t been able to do so. In fact, the strong-armed but undersized QB has had to face ridicule in recent days. After Gabriel’s very first press conference on Saturday, a video surfaced of a reporter off-camera mouthing, “I’m taller than him,” with a smirk that did numbers online. It was one of those small moments that hit bigger when paired with an interception clip. Then, let us not forget that there have been constant comparisons with Shedeur Sanders ever since the 2025 NDL Draft concluded.

Still, Gabriel’s keeping his head down, soaking up knowledge from the vets, and staying locked in on proving he belongs here. While he struggled to shake the early jitters, another rookie quarterback in Cleveland was flipping the script entirely—swagger, spotlight, and all!

While Dillon Gabriel stumbled, Shedeur Sanders declares war on the league with a vow!

In a separate clip that dropped just hours later, Shedeur Sanders stood in front of the media and made a statement that echoed across the league. “My story is gonna be similar,” he said, drawing a direct comparison to none other than Tom Brady. The context? Sanders fell all the way to the fifth round of the draft, a slide that shocked many but didn’t seem to shake him in the slightest. If anything, it lit a fuse. And let us not forget that Tom Brady was a late pick, too.

“Powerful,” wrote NFL analyst Dov Kleiman as he posted the video, adding, “Shedeur is ready to make every team that passed on him regret their decision.” Sanders wasn’t just talking a big game—he was stepping fully into the chip-on-his-shoulder persona, embracing it like Brady did in 2000.

And now, the Browns, watching both rookie QBs closely, are busy making mental notes. Even after slipping way down to the fifth round, the Browns weren’t ready to let Shedeur Sanders fall any further. They actually traded up just to snag him at No. 144. But here’s the kicker — the moment his name got called, the whole draft room went dead quiet. No cheers, no claps. Just stunned silence. Still, Shedeur didn’t flinch. He owned that moment, later throwing this bold comparison to Brady. The guy’s walking into the league with a chip on his shoulder and a mission to prove every team that passed on him dead wrong.

The contrast couldn’t be sharper. Gabriel drew picks and sideline shade, while Shedeur Sanders fired off bold soundbites and lined himself up with greatness. Fans picked up on it, too. Some lauded Shedeur’s mindset, while others warned he’d better back it up. Either way, he controlled the narrative. Gabriel, meanwhile, has shown his resilience, too. While Shedeur is used to both positive and negative attention, this is just the start for Gabriel, and when he was asked about the constant comparisons, he showed great maturity. He opined that such comparisons would only divide the team and chose to put his head down and work.

And now, speculation is building—are the Browns already leaning toward Shedeur as their future project? Gabriel’s margin for error was never big, but after that rough minicamp debut, it might be paper-thin. Still, minicamp is just the start. Some QBs falter early and rise later. But in a league built on narratives, Gabriel’s clock is ticking faster than most. If he wants to rewrite it, he’ll need more than a clean stat sheet—he’ll need a spark of his own.

Can Gabriel flip the script, or will he be remembered as the rookie who stumbled before the preseason even kicked off?