Mixed Night for Dillon Gabriel in Browns Preseason Opener

This past weekend, the Cleveland Browns faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles in their second preseason matchup, and, much like last week, a rookie quarterback got the nod to start the game. Unlike last week, however, the rookie quarterback to start for the Browns was third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel had been nursing a hamstring injury the last few weeks of the preseason but was cleared in time to take two quarters’ worth of snaps for the Browns, and during this stint, he had some highs, as well as some lows.

Let’s start with the positives for the young, former Big Ten offensive player of the year, Dillon Gabriel. Dillon started the game on fire, going four for four, compiling 29 yards, and while he did not toss the touchdown, the team scored on a touchdown run in the red zone. Gabriel was poised when it came to third-down situations, going a perfect six of six and tossing 51 yards, ensuring the Browns continued to move the chains. Gabriel’s overall performance would pass the eye test, completing 13 out of 18 passes for 143 yards and a passer rating of 72.2.

While all stated showed promise, and if you watch the tape, Gabriel was crisp, but to a fault. Gabriel threw an interception that resulted in a touchdown for the defense in this game. While many may argue that it was more on the receiver stopping mid-route, Gabriel could have just as easily thrown the ball away due to it being a broken play with two receivers in the same area. Regardless of the volatile pick, Gabriel’s worst turnover did not count towards his stat line. Gabriel mishandled a ball to running back, Pierre Strong Jr., which caused the back to fumble.

It may sound like I am negative on the Browns’ rookie quarterback, but I am not. Gabriel fits the stereotypical quarterback that Kevin Stefanski likes. Gabriel ran the offense exactly how it should be, without any improvisation. The hang-up comes when you compare this style of play to that of the top quarterbacks in the league today. Coach Stefanski likes his guys to play the game by the book, and to be the best of the best behind the center, you can’t just be a game manager. Take Gabriel’s play and compare it to that of Shedeur Sanders’ last week, and you can see why fans are still so eager for Sanders. Gabriel looked exactly like the player you would want to have as the backup quarterback on your team, whereas Sanders showed he has the tools to potentially be a quality starter in this league.

We have now seen two preseason games for the Cleveland Browns, but it is important to remember that it has been just that, two preseason games. While I see the two rookie quarterbacks in the separate lights of “high-quality backup” and “potential starter,” both Sanders and Gabriel are extremely new to the league and still have ample time to write their stories. There is one final thing to be said: the quarterback room feels completely different in a positive way in comparison to last season. Both of these players have shown promise, but which one will rise to the top? Only time will tell.