Biggest Winners and Losers From Week 1 of Browns Training Camp 2025

Winner: Dillon Gabriel

The Browns' quarterback situation continues to garner a lot of national attention, primarily due to Shedeur Sanders. However, it’s been Gabriel, not Sanders, who has worked with the first team. Joe Flacco has mainly been the first-team quarterback, but Gabriel has rotated in and is expected to get even more work with Kenny Pickett out for the next few weeks with a hamstring injury.

While we can’t take away too much from the first week of non-padded practices, Gabriel has looked sharp and has obviously done enough in camp to continue working with the first team. That could certainly change as the pads come on and as we inch closer to the preseason, but Gabriel’s performance in the first few practices has been encouraging.

Gabriel has been the most “on-time passer” of the group, but he still has a way to go in terms of consistency, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. But overall, it’s been a good first week for the former Oregon star. We will see if that momentum continues now that the pads are on.

Winner: Dylan Sampson

The draft process was not kind for Sampson as he was widely viewed as a top-75 player in the class, but fell to Day 3 after some concerns about his size. On paper, Sampson landed in a tough situation on a team with Jerome Ford and Quinshon Judkins, whom the Browns had just selected early on Day 2.

The expectation was that Sampson would fight for the No. 3 RB job on the roster and have to wait his turn for touches. But this is just another reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL.

Just before camp, Judkins was arrested and has yet to sign his rookie contract. Jerome Ford is dealing with an injury, and now it’s Sampson who is getting work with the first-team offense. And he’s looked good in that role. Time will tell how the running back room shakes out once Ford returns and Judkins signs his deal. But as of now, Sampson has climbed the depth chart, and he might not look back.

Loser: Kenny Pickett

Pickett has not had a bad camp by any stretch. In fact, he might have been the best quarterback on the field during Saturday's practice, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. But a hamstring injury that could sideline Pickett for the next few weeks could be devastating for his chances of winning the starting job.

It seems unlikely that the Browns will keep two veteran quarterbacks on the roster, especially with Gabriel and Sanders performing well enough at camp. And Pickett now has to watch those three play ahead of him, and Pickett could likely miss multiple preseason games.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Pickett, who is on his third team in three seasons. And it’s unfortunate as he was progressing as the practices went along. Here's hoping that his absence won’t be too long and he can get back on the field sooner rather than later.

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