The Cleveland Browns find themselves in an unusual quarterback situation.
With Deshaun Watson still sidelined and Kenny Pickett dealing with a hamstring injury, the team has turned to rookie Dillon Gabriel for extended first-team snaps during training camp.
This decision has sparked debate among analysts and fans.
During a recent segment on 92.3 The Fan, analyst Daryl Ruiter delivered a sharp assessment of the Browns’ current strategy.
“They’re putting him in a bad spot. You’re forcing me to evaluate this kid like he’s a first-round pick—he’s not. He’s a 3rd-round pick. It’s clear that you’re trying to prepare him to play this year, and I think that it is a grave mistake. He’s not ready for it. I am evaluating him not as a third-round pick, I’m evaluating him as a guy who they’re giving first-team reps right out of the gate. Every day, this guy is first up. Occasionally, it’s Joe Flacco, but every day, it’s Dillon Gabriel first up. Why?” Ruiter said.
"They're putting him in a bad spot. You're forcing me to evaluate this kid like he's a 1st-round pick. He's a 3rd-round pick. It's clear that you're trying to prepare him to play"
🚨@RuiterWrongFAN to @NickPedone12 on #Browns QB Dillon Gabriel
🔊Listen: https://t.co/9LTb8vvum0 pic.twitter.com/9RQJf8Cxfu
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 3, 2025
Gabriel’s performance has been a little inconsistent since arriving from Oregon.
His struggles became evident on Day 8 of camp when he completed just 3 of 14 passes in team drills. He also threw an interception and failed to find the end zone.
Despite these setbacks, Gabriel continues getting most of the first-team work. He often takes snaps ahead of veteran Joe Flacco.
Fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders remains in the mix but is currently dealing with arm soreness.
The coaching staff has defended their approach by highlighting Gabriel’s work ethic and willingness to learn.
However, the situation has created concerns beyond just performance. Sanders has shown flashes when healthy, but remains lower on the depth chart.
Cleveland faces important decisions in the upcoming preseason games.
The team must decide whether to continue developing Gabriel with premium reps or make adjustments before the regular season arrives.
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