Dillon Gabriel appears to be edging past Shedeur Sanders for Browns’ backup role, minicamp chatter says

The Browns quarterback story is not really about a formal depth chart yet. It’s about hints — who gets the first reps, who looks more game-ready, and who coaches seem to trust first when nothing has been officially decided. Right now, the chatter around Cleveland is that Dillon Gabriel may be a little ahead of Shedeur Sanders for the backup job behind Deshaun Watson. That’s not a final ruling. But it is enough to change how people are reading this competition. ### Why are people saying Gabriel is ahead? Because this isn’t coming from one random hot take. The talk traces back to how Cleveland has handled the two rookies since they arrived. In Browns rookie minicamp last May, Gabriel — the third-round pick — took the first snaps in team, seven-on-seven, and red-zone drills, while Sanders came after him. Kevin Stefanski publicly downplayed that at the time and called the evaluation “all-encompassing,” but first reps still matter because coaches usually have a reason for the order. ### Why does rep order matter so much? Because backup quarterback battles are usually decided on trust before upside. The No. 2 quarterback has to get the call on short notice, run the script, get the huddle lined up, and avoid chaos. Gabriel’s whole sales pitch is basically that profile — experienced, quick processor, tons of college starts, low-drama operation. Sanders may have the bigger spotlight and the bigger long-term intrigue, but the immediate backup job is often about who looks easiest to drop into a Sunday game. ### So is Sanders actually losing ground? Not in any official sense. That’s the catch. What exists right now is more like informed league gossip plus local read-between-the-lines analysis. Some Cleveland coverage still frames Sanders and Watson as the higher-profile figures in the room, and Sanders has drawn plenty of attention for adapting quickly and embracing Todd Monken’s offense. But the more recent chatter says Gabriel may be the cleaner fit for the direct backup role if Watson opens the year as QB1. ### Why would Gabriel fit better as QB2? He looks like the classic “be ready now” option. Gabriel has been talking like a player who expects to compete for every rep, and Cleveland drafted him much earlier than Sanders. That matters because draft slot isn’t everything, but it usually reflects how a team initially values readiness and role. If the Browns want the safest bridge between Watson and the rest of the room, Gabriel has the simpler case. ### Why is Sanders still such a big part of this story? Because Sanders changes the stakes. He arrived with far more attention than a normal developmental quarterback, so every rep gets read like a referendum. If he’s third, people won’t treat that as normal rookie seasoning — they’ll treat it as a slide. And if he starts flashing enough to force the issue, the whole conversation changes fast. That’s why even soft minicamp signals are getting amplified. ### Has Cleveland settled anything yet? No. Not really. The Browns have been careful not to declare winners this early, and that’s smart. Spring practices are useful, but they’re not the same as preseason games or real pass rush. Still, teams do reveal preferences before they announce them. Right now, the strongest read is that Gabriel appears to have the inside lane to be Watson’s backup, with Sanders still trying to turn a headline-heavy battle into an on-field one. ### Bottom line? Gabriel seems to be edging in front because backup jobs reward steadiness first. Sanders may still have the bigger ceiling story. But in Cleveland, the immediate question is who the Browns trust next — and the answer, for now, looks more like Gabriel.