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Cleveland Browns fans are gearing up for a highly entertaining quarterback competition which will include Dillon Gabriel. Despite recent college football stints with the Oregon Ducks and Oklahoma Sooners, Gabriel spent the most time with the UCF Knight during his collegiate career.
Gabriel's tenure with UCF ended abruptly as the quarterback was one of the first major departures for the Knights in 2022 as the transfer portal era began. There will be at least some UCF fans following how Gabriel's NFL career unfolds.
The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round with the No. 94 overall pick. Things got a lot more interesting as Cleveland traded up on Day 3 to select Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.
Both Gabriel and Sanders have been quiet on their reaction to being teammates. Gabriel did reveal his first reaction to getting selected by the Browns on Day 2.
"Ballers Ball #DawgPound," Gabriel noted in a message posted on X on Saturday.
It is worth noting that Gabriel's response came after Day 2 and well before Cleveland would land Sanders.
Congrats @_dillongabriel_ https://t.co/dXkc5vwAdY pic.twitter.com/F5wuRohWKR
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) April 26, 2025
Gabriel threw a career-high 32 touchdown passes with UCF in 2020. The signal-caller spent his first three seasons as the Knights QB1.
Gabriel's best season at UCF came in 2020 when the quarterback threw for 3,570 yards, 32 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 60% of his passes in 10 contests.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry admitted that the team did not expect to take Sanders after selecting Gabriel on the previous day.
BREAKING: Cleveland Browns QB Dillon Gabriel has entered the transfer portal @_dillongabriel_ pic.twitter.com/1lE9ghjTBd
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) April 26, 2025
"And then (with) Shedeur, we talk oftentimes about quarterback being the most important position in the sport," Berry told reporters on Saturday. "We obviously spent a lot of time with Shedeur throughout the process. He's highly accurate, can play well from the pocket, very productive college career.
"And we felt like it wasn't necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks. But as we talk about, we do believe in (taking) best player available. We do believe in positional value. And we didn't necessarily expect him to be available in the fifth round."
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Is Michigan Football closing In on its next QB from the 2027 recruiting class?
Michigan is still working on its 2026 class, but the Wolverines are picking up steam in the 2027 cycle. Michigan now has two commitments for the '27 class after three-star lineman Tristan Dare pledged to the Wolverines on Monday. But will the Wolverines keep the momentum? It's quite possible, and Michigan could be finding its 2027 QB very soon. With Texas A M landing Jayce Johnson recently, the next domino to fall could be in the Wolverines' favor. In a recent article by Rivals' Steve Wiltfong, he pointed out two QBs that could go Michigan's way. The first QB Wiltfong is looking at is 6-foot-4 gunslinger Peter Bourque. The Marion (MA) product is ranked as the No. 75 player and No. 6 QB in the 2027 class, per the Composite. Penn State has been the team favored in Bourque's recruitment, but according to Wiltfong, Michigan appears to be the team leading in his recruitment heading into the fall. Bourque holds offers from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Oregon, among others. If things don't go well with Bourque, the Wolverines could be just fine with four-star Malachi Zeigler. Both SMU and Baylor are the main competition for the Wolverines, but Wiltfong likes Michigan's chances in his recruitment. The Benton (LA) product is ranked as the No. 156 prospect and No. 12 QB, per the Composite. Zeigler holds offers from Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, and Texas Tech, among others. Michigan found its QB in the 2026 cycle with Brady Smigiel, who will likely sit behind Bryce Underwood for at least two years. But as the Wolverines found out last year, you have to have a stockpile of QBs.
Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
Minnesota Vikings Concerned About Performance Of One Critical Position
The NFL preseason is a time for optimism—a chance for fans and coaches alike to dream about overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness. But for Minnesota Vikings fans, there’s one lingering issue that tempers any excitement year after year: the team’s ongoing struggle to find consistency at the kicker position. Now, as training camp unfolds, that familiar uncertainty has crept back in. The Vikings’ current kicker, Will Reichard, is facing scrutiny following a shaky camp performance that has reignited concerns about whether Minnesota can finally close the book on its long, frustrating history with kickers. Minnesota Vikings: A Rocky Start for Will Reichard in 2025 Struggles in Training Camp Will Reichard came to the Minnesota Vikings with high expectations. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was viewed as a potential long-term solution to the team’s troubles at kicker. For a brief moment early in his rookie season, it seemed like the Vikings had struck gold—Reichard began his career with a perfect 14-for-14 streak on field goals, including four impressive conversions from beyond 50 yards. But things began to unravel. A quad injury midway through the season disrupted his rhythm, keeping him sidelined for four games and impacting his performance upon his return. Over his final five games, Reichard made just 10 of 14 field goal attempts, missing key kicks that left fans uneasy. Fast forward to training camp in 2025, and Reichard’s form appears to still be a work in progress. Reports from camp have described misses on routine field goal attempts, including two inside 40 yards during a recent session. These struggles are especially concerning for a team that frequently finds itself involved in close games where field position and special teams play a pivotal role. Root Causes of Reichard’s Struggles Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels acknowledged earlier this offseason that Reichard’s exhaustive rookie year may have played a role in his late-season slide. “The guy basically played eleven straight months of football without a break,” Daniels said, referencing his college playoff games, Senior Bowl participation, and NFL pre-draft commitments. This demanding schedule, combined with the physical toll of an NFL season, may have contributed to the quad injury and subsequent dip in performance. But excuses, while understandable, won’t satisfy Vikings fans who’ve grown weary of the team’s perpetual kicking carousel. The NFL is an unforgiving league, and the clock is ticking for Reichard to prove he can handle the pressure that comes with being an NFL kicker. The Vikings’ Troubled History with Kickers A Legacy of Heartbreak For much of their history, the Minnesota Vikings have been haunted by a seemingly endless cycle of kicker-related heartbreak. From missed playoff kicks to ill-fated experiments with new talent, the team’s inability to find stability at the position has cost them dearly. One of the most infamous moments came during the 1998 NFC Championship Game, when Gary Anderson—who had been perfect all season—missed a critical field goal that ultimately contributed to the Vikings’ loss. More recently, a missed 27-yard field goal by Blair Walsh during the 2015 playoffs sent shockwaves through a stunned fanbase. These moments aren’t just isolated mistakes; they’ve cast a long shadow over the franchise, leaving kickers who wear the Vikings jersey under unparalleled scrutiny. High Expectations in a High-Pressure Role The psychological toll of being a Vikings kicker is difficult to overstate. For any player stepping into the role, the expectations are sky-high, and even minor errors are magnified. It’s a position where good performance is expected but rarely celebrated, and failure—however fleeting—can define a career. This legacy of intense pressure raises questions. How much of the Minnesota Vikings’ kicker struggles are physical, and how much is mental? With Reichard now under the microscope, the team must evaluate whether his training camp struggles are a short-term hiccup or indicative of deeper issues. What Comes Next for the Minnesota Vikings? Patience or Panic? The NFL preseason offers Reichard a chance to put his training camp woes behind him. Preseason games, while still lower-stakes than the regular season, are a litmus test for kickers. If Reichard can bounce back and deliver reliable performances, he could cement his spot as the team’s starter before Week 1. But if the struggles persist, the Vikings may be forced to revisit their options. With veteran free agents potentially available and camp cuts creating opportunities, Minnesota could bring in competition to push Reichard or provide a backstop in case things continue to go south. Fixing Fundamentals Some factors affecting Reichard’s performance may extend beyond his own capabilities. The kicking operation—the trio of kicker, holder, and long snapper—requires precision. Reports from training camp indicate the team is testing new holding candidates, which could add instability to Reichard’s attempts. Straightening out these technical aspects will be critical as the team evaluates its special teams unit. A Familiar Feeling for Fans For Vikings fans, anxiety over the kicker spot is nothing new. Every wide-left miss or low-pressure shank in camp feels like déjà vu, a reminder of past heartbreaks that are all too fresh in their minds. But while skepticism runs high, so does the cautious hope that this time—finally—the team may find a solution. Final Thoughts The Minnesota Vikings’ search for consistency at the kicker position remains an ongoing saga, with Will Reichard’s training camp struggles adding another chapter to a story that’s defined by frustration and unmet expectations. However, the preseason still offers hope—hope that Reichard can reset and realign before the stakes become real. For now, though, the Minnesota Vikings walk a tightrope. If Reichard can rise to the challenge, stabilize his form, and deliver when it matters most, he could put an end to years of uncertainty. But if the struggles continue, the team must act quickly to avoid letting special teams woes derail another season. For Vikings fans, all they can do is hold their collective breath—and hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Matt LaFleur sheds light on concerning Tucker Kraft situation
The Green Bay Packers continued work on the field on Saturday, with tens of thousands of fans in attendance watching amid the annual Family Night. However, one notable player who was not able to make it to the field and practice was tight end Tucker Kraft. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbits star is nursing a lower-body injury, forcing the Packers to take it easy on the tight end and keep him on the shelf rather than risk aggravation of the issue. Speaking to the media, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about Kraft’s status, via Green Bay reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “MLF said Tucker Kraft has been dealing with a groin injury and powering through it for the last two days but they decided to give him a couple days off.” Kraft is expected to be among the major targets in the Packers’ passing attack in his third year in the pros. Selected in the third round (78th overall) by the Packers in the 2023 NFL draft, the 24-year-old Kraft is looking to surpass his production in 2024, when he posted 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 receptions.
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