Shedeur Sanders vs Dillon Gabriel: Who’s ahead in the Browns’ QB competition?

The Cleveland Browns are giving their young quarterbacks a fair look this preseason, and through two weeks of preseason games, the picture is still as muddy as ever.

Shedeur Sanders vs Dillon Gabriel after two preseason starts

Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders impressed in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, throwing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-23 passing. Calm in the pocket and efficient in the red zone, Sanders posted a 106.8 passer rating and looked every bit like a quarterback ready to challenge for a roster spot. Unfortunately, an oblique injury in practice kept him out of Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, that opened the door for Dillon Gabriel, the Browns’ third-round pick out of Oregon, to make his first start in Week 2. Gabriel came out strong, leading the Browns on an opening-drive touchdown. But after that, the rollercoaster began. He finished 13-of-18 for 144 yards, showing good accuracy and poise at times, but two costly turnovers - a Pick-6 to Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba and a botched handoff that resulted in a fumble - undercut what could have been a promising performance. Gabriel also took two sacks and ended the night with a 72.2 passer rating.

More on how it went down: Rookie Gabriel leads Browns past Eagles with Sheduer sidelined

After the game, Gabriel seemed to have taken a shot at Sanders:

“There’s entertainers and there’s competitors, and I totally understand that,” Gabriel told NFL Network. “My job is to compete, and that’s what I’m focused on doing. Of course, we’re doing this big game, but it’s something that I’ll get used to.”

Head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn’t tipped his hand on the depth chart, but with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett also in the mix, the Browns have a decision to make. Flacco remains the safe veteran option, while Pickett is still working back from injury. That leaves the rookies vying to prove they belong not just as backups, but potentially as future cornerstones.

So who has the edge?

On paper, Sanders’ efficient, mistake-free debut stands out compared to Gabriel’s turnovers. But availability matters, and if Sanders’ oblique injury lingers, Gabriel will get more chances to prove he can settle in.

It’s clear that Cleveland is committed to letting this play out on the field. Sanders showed poise, Gabriel showed flashes, and both rookies still have time to tilt the competition in their favor before the preseason ends.

For Browns fans, it’s a familiar feeling: uncertainty at quarterback. The hope, though, is that this time the answer might come from one of the two young arms still learning the NFL game.

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