The Cleveland Browns selected Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel with the 94th overall pick in the third round of Friday’s portion of the NFL Draft.
Gabriel joins a quarterback room that already contains Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson … yes, I said, Deshaun Watson.
While Flacco is certainly the presumed starter ahead of all, there will be fierce competition this offseason. Pickett is out to prove he can be a starter in this league, Flacco doesn’t want to sit, and now Gabriel will come in wanting to prove he should’ve been taken higher.
Everyone will have eyes on Watson’s recovery from a second Achilles tendon tear in three months back in January. While he’s not expected to suit up for 2025, if his recovery goes well, there’s a possibility he could be ready near the end of the season or for an unlikely postseason run.
It was widely thought the Browns would take a quarterback higher, and they were even connected to Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who remains undrafted through the first three rounds.
Flacco spent a forgettable last season in Indianapolis while posting impressive numbers, but posting a 2-4 record. He passed for 1,761 yards while completing 65.3 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions across six starts.
Pickett was relegated to being Jalen Hurts’ backup in Philadelphia last season and saw action in five games with one start. The former Pitt Panther threw for 291 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and completed 59.5 percent of his throws.
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