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Browns' Dillon Gabriel draft pick looks even worse compared to these 3 players right next to him
TL;DR
The Cleveland Browns' third-round draft pick, Dillon Gabriel, is under scrutiny as three players selected around him have shown strong rookie performances. Gabriel, viewed as a late-round prospect, faces uncertainty about his future in the NFL.
Key points
- Cleveland Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft
- Gabriel was viewed as a late-round quarterback
- Three players drafted around Gabriel had productive rookie seasons
- Gabriel's future in the NFL is uncertain
Dillon GabrielShedeur SandersCleveland Browns
Browns' Dillon Gabriel draft pick looks even worse compared to these 3 players right next to him originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns surprised a lot of people when they drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sure, it looked even weirder when they drafted a second QB, Shedeur Sanders, a couple rounds later. But even at the time, it was a shock. Gabriel was viewed as a late-round quarterback, and instead he was the No. 94 overall pick.
If Browns fans were hoping to somehow feel better about that a year later, this won't do that. The player taken directly in front of Gabriel, and then the two right after him, all had productive rookie seasons and appear to have solid futures ahead of them.
Gabriel's future is a lot less certain.
Pro Football Reference has a stat called 'Weighted Average Value,' and without getting too deep into it, its essentially one way of assigning value to each player chosen in a draft class. As a Browns comparison, Harold Fannin had a 5 wAV as a rookie, while Gabriel had a 0.
MORE:Shedeur Sanders sets the bar for NFL Draft craziness
The player chosen directly before Gabriel, and the two after him, had a 7 in wAV for the 2025 season. They were the three-best selections, by that metric, in the entire 2025 third round.
The Browns couldn't have gotten safety Jonas Sanker, who went to the Saints right in front of Gabriel.
Q&A
What were Dillon Gabriel's draft expectations compared to other players?
Dillon Gabriel was expected to be a late-round pick but was surprisingly selected in the third round, while three players drafted around him have had productive rookie seasons.
Who were the players drafted around Dillon Gabriel in the 2025 NFL Draft?
The players drafted directly in front of and behind Dillon Gabriel have all shown promising performances in their rookie seasons, contrasting with Gabriel's uncertain future.
What impact does Dillon Gabriel's draft pick have on the Browns' future?
Gabriel's selection as a third-round quarterback raises questions about the Browns' decision-making, especially given the success of players chosen around him.
