Dillon Gabriel opens up about QB competition narrative amid Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson chatter

It's no secret that the perception exists that first-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken plans to name either 2025 fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders or veteran Deshaun Watson the club's starting quarterback later this summer. 

Meanwhile, 2025 third-round choice Dillon Gabriel is still with the Browns and, thus, is technically part of a competition for the QB1 gig. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Gabriel addressed being viewed as the odd man out. 

Dillon Gabriel not focusing on what's being said about Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson

"I’m just running my own race and focus on what I can control, and that’s mastering my reps and doing it at a high level," Gabriel explained, per Scott Petrak of Browns Zone. 

Gabriel went 1-5 over six starts as a rookie before he suffered a concussion during a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. He was then relegated to backup duties through the remainder of the season. 

"I don’t think it’s ever easy as a competitor," Gabriel said about losing the starting job to an injury this past fall. "But you just want to keep staying the course, trust in God’s plan, and then ultimately, you got to run your own race and focus on your goals." 

Todd Monken gives Dillon Gabriel hope amid battle with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson 

Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently suggested that Monken will give Gabriel legitimate opportunities to impress through training camp and the preseason. On Tuesday, Monken insisted that Gabriel is in the mix to win the starting job. 

"I wouldn't say it's a two-man race," Monken said, per Eric Edholm of the NFL's website. "I would just say that at every position, there's competition, irrespective of the reps that they get, which I've said before. I mean, everybody ought to be competing. But what I have liked with Dillon is the way he goes about his business. Very professional, highly intelligent, understands football, has a certain charisma about him and a confidence that's hard to create. He has it innate. You saw it throughout his career. You don't go to three different programs and have the success he had if he doesn't have a belief in himself."

That belief may be helping Gabriel ignore how he is seen by analysts and pockets of fans who think the Browns should let Sanders either sink or swim as the team's first-choice option at the sport's most important position. 

"I’ve been in a bunch of competitions up until this point," Gabriel added. "You just got to focus on yourself and master those reps so you can keep getting better, and ultimately, the best player will play."