Analyst shares how Browns' Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders must improve during training camp

Cleveland Browns fans continue to say the team is wasting time by planning to start veteran Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett at quarterback over 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel or 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders.

Lance Reisland of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggested Thursday that film from training camp shows why the Browns are in no rush to play either Gabriel or Sanders against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.

"Gabriel struggles to consistently deliver from a condensed pocket due to height limitations," Reisland wrote. "He’s having difficulty locating intermediate routes over traffic, leading to elevated trajectories and late throws. His most accurate work comes off wide-zone boot action, where launch points are moved, and throwing lanes are clean. Gabriel must maintain active, balanced feet to slide within the pocket and locate clean throwing windows, especially in drop-back situations." 

Cleveland received criticism from national reporters after they made Gabriel the 94th pick of this year's draft when it was thought he would be a third-day selection. Some seem to doubt that Gabriel is 5-foot-11, his listed size, but he nevertheless spent time as Cleveland's QB2 during midweek practices as Pickett worked to recover from a hamstring injury. 

Meanwhile, Sanders was an advertised first-round talent before his alleged handling of the predraft process contributed to his fall to the fifth round. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't hidden during training camp that Sanders is the club's fourth option at the position heading into Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. 

"Sanders is at his best when he marries footwork to progression," Reisland noted. "When his base is clean, and he transfers weight through his hips into the throw, he delivers with velocity and precision. ...However, when his first read is capped or taken away post-snap, he often reverts to arm-only mechanics, drifting backward and failing to engage his lower half. This limits both zip and location, especially on intermediate throws versus match coverage. From both on-platform and off-platform situations, Sanders must finish with hips and transfer weight forward through the throw to maintain control and accuracy." 

Reisland added that "Flacco is operating at a high level in terms of structure and rhythm." That's hardly surprising considering the 40-year-old is a one-time Super Bowl MVP who played in Stefanski's offense as the two helped the 2023 Browns reach the playoffs. 

There may come a time when the Browns, who hold a pair of 2026 first-round draft picks, feel they need to get looks at both Gabriel and Sanders during the 2025 season. That said, Flacco appears to be on track to get the nod for the Cincinnati matchup on Sept. 7.