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Dillon Gabriel’s Physical Appearance Steals Attention Next To Shedeur Sanders

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated May 10, 2025 5:08 PM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel spent the first part of rookie minicamp on Saturday answering questions from the media.

Gabriel's appearance drew a stronger reaction than some of his words.

The pair of rookie quarterbacks are competing for a spot in the Browns quarterback room that also includes Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett.

Gabriel was the first signal caller drafted by Cleveland with the No. 94 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After passing on Sanders earlier in the draft, the Browns circled back to the Colorado standout, trading up 22 spots to take him with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round.

"I love it," Gabriel said of the competition with Sanders before they took the field for their second rookie minicamp practice. "I love it because of who it is. I think just for us both, you can learn from one another, but also it's not just us two in the room."

Both players spoke to the media before team drills, with Gabriel up first. As he left to make way for Sanders, the stunned reaction of a credentialed staffer was caught on video.

The man appeared raise doubts about Gabriel's physical stock, mouthing the words "I'm taller than him" multiple times toward someone off camera.

A Cleveland Browns reporter mouthed this after Dillon Gabriel’s presser:

“I’m taller than him.” pic.twitter.com/kPAaRl0dEv
— GUCCE‍⬛ (@gucceCU) May 10, 2025

Gabriel is listed at 6-feet, 200 pounds. By comparison, Sanders is 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. Both come up short of Pickett and Watson (6-foot-3) and the towering Flacco, who is 6-foot-6.

Gabriel's size did not hold him back in college, as he finished his time with Oklahoma, UCF and Oregon as the FBS all-time leader in total touchdowns (189). He also finished his career second in FBS history in career passing yards (18,722).

When asked about his height before the NFL Draft, Gabriel said he hoped to be drafted by a team "who doesn't give a rip about that, you know, and just wants a winner wants a baller."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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