If the Browns already have a plan to pick their franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft, why did head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry go for two rookies this year? Earlier, it was believed that Dillon Gabriel was the answer for the Browns franchise QB after Jimmy Haslam’s big swing and miss on Deshaun Watson. But this does not seem to be the case at all.

First, Tony Grossi, a veteran Cleveland insider for over four decades, weighed in on why the Browns went for Gabriel in the 2025 draft. Per the veteran analyst, Gabriel can be a good backup for Cleveland after the Browns settle on their franchise signal caller. “At worst, Gabriel is a backup to the franchise quarterback and a possible trade chip in his third year. Keep in mind that Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are on one-year contracts, so they are unlikely to return in 2026,” Grossi said.

And if Gabriel really wants to stay in Cleveland, Grossi said that being a “backup quarterback is not an unimportant role” either. Enter former wide receiver and analyst Cecil Shorts III, who now brings a different perspective behind why the Browns even drafted Gabriel. According to Shorts, not only was Gabriel’s name missing from most credible draft boards, but his surprise selection also contributed to the Browns’ inability to land a more coveted QB prospect, namely Shedeur Sanders. And the retired WR has only one man to blame for all this chaos: GM Andrew Berry.

While talking on the ‘Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show’, Shorts said, “To me, talent-wise, like he mentioned, Shedeur is way better than Dillon. Dillon wasn’t on nobody’s list. Let’s call him a spade. Nobody was thinking about Dillon Gabriel being drafted in the first three rounds. Nobody. Nobody. It wasn’t on nobody’s list. Nobody was talking about him on TV at all. They was the top 10 quarterbacks. He wasn’t in the top 10 court. Like, come on. Let’s be real here. Let’s also be honest. Andrew Berry ain’t good at drafting. Let’s call this spade of spade. He ain’t good at drafting, and they ain’t good at developing. So now, to me, like again, this goes back to it. Who says their job is safe?”

If the surprise pick of Dillon Gabriel caught people off guard, it also left a bitter aftertaste, one that becomes more obvious when viewed through the lens of who wasn’t drafted. The selection of Gabriel not only puzzled analysts but also potentially caused ripple effects that shut the door on one of the most electric and media-hyped quarterback prospects in recent years.

But is Shedeur Sanders slipping in Cleveland?

The Browns didn’t draft Shedeur Sanders to stash him. At least, that wasn’t the plan. But weeks into his first NFL offseason, the former Colorado star is already trailing the pack, and the building knows it.

While Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Gabriel split first-team reps at minicamp, Sanders was mostly working with backups. Head coach Kevin Stefanski offered early praise, calling him talented enough to have gone higher in the draft. But praise doesn’t equal opportunity. So far, the reps say more than the rhetoric.

Reports suggest the front office is divided. Some believe owner Jimmy Haslam pushed for Sanders against the grain of the scouting department. One insider described the draft room as tense when his name was called. And the depth chart reflects that uncertainty: Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel… then Sanders.

Veteran reporter Terry Pluto didn’t mince words: “For Shedeur Sanders, the reality is he’s no longer special. Not in the eyes of the NFL.” Statistically, only 7% of fifth-round quarterbacks become starters — and that number’s been hanging over Sanders since the moment he arrived.

Still, the 23-year-old hasn’t backed down. “Where I go, I’m trying to elevate the Cleveland Browns,” he said. “Sometimes when you bring a different level of energy, not everyone in the building is going to like that.” 

Now all eyes are on how it pans out for the Browns and which rookie shines through.