What Browns' Dillon Gabriel starting decision means for Shedeur Sanders
originally appeared on The Sporting News

If you travel back six months, to the beginning of April, this is a scenario no one would've seen coming.

Shedeur Sanders was projected to be a first-round pick at QB out of Colorado. Dillon Gabriel? A mid-round depth pick at best as an experienced quarterback lacking high-end physical tools.

But here we are, Oct. 1, and Gabriel has been announced as the Cleveland Browns' new starting quarterback. He replaces Joe Flacco.

For now, Sanders will wait in the wings.

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It's not a shock in the moment, of course. Gabriel has been QB2 all along this season, with Sanders the No. 3 quarterback. The Browns weren't going to leapfrog Gabriel for Sanders in this decision.

But it does create further questions about Sanders' NFL future.

Will the Browns start Gabriel for every one of the remaining 13 games if he stays healthy and plays decently? Or is there a commitment in the back of their minds to give Sanders a few starts at some point, too?

Sanders does likely move closer to his starting opportunity with this decision, but the 40-year old Flacco was never the real obstacle. The guy in the way now is a rookie who, if he shines, could put serious questions in the Browns' minds about if the QB of the future is already on the roster.

The most likely outcome is Cleveland drafting a first-round quarterback in the 2026 draft. But the Browns will still want to know what they've got in Gabriel and Sanders, and if they're worth keeping as competition or backups, at minimum.

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The Browns believed in Sanders enough to draft him as a second quarterback just 50 picks after Gabriel. And now he's one step closer to getting onto an NFL field.

He may not even be Gabriel's direct backup at first. But the reality is that Sanders is one step closer to an NFL debut. And his chances to see the field might now all come down to how Gabriel plays.

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• A.J. Brown put out quite the cryptic tweet after another quiet game
• Spencer Rattler made another case as the Saints' starting QB, this time on his birthday
• Geno Smith trade has raised some quick concerns

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