Gabriel embracing addition of Sanders to Browns’ QB competition

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns’ number of quarterback Dillon Gabriel within the third spherical of the NFL draft was a widespread shock for a participant pegged as a Day 3 choose — however it was rapidly overshadowed by the staff taking Shedeur Sanders within the fifth spherical to finish his surprising fall.

Sanders has grabbed headlines in and out of doors of Cleveland because the choose, however Gabriel mentioned he’s embracing the guy rookie’s addition to a crowded quarterback room.

“I love it,” Gabriel mentioned Saturday earlier than the Browns’ second rookie minicamp observe. “I love it because of who it is. I think just for us both, you can learn from one another, but also it’s not just us two in the room. At least for right now it is. But going into the year, Kenny [Pickett], Joe [Flacco] and even Deshaun [Watson], just a bunch of guys who played a bunch of ball that we can all learn from one another.”

Sanders, in the meantime, mentioned Saturday his focus is not on proving anybody incorrect after the beautiful fall within the draft.

“It’s just me versus me,” Sanders mentioned. “I can’t control any other decision besides that. So I just try to be my best self at all times. … My job here isn’t to prove people wrong. I’m proving myself right.”

On the primary day of rookie minicamp, Sanders and Gabriel cut up observe reps, with Gabriel taking the primary handful of snaps in staff drills, although coach Kevin Stefanski downplayed the observe order. Stefanski added that the rookies’ work in minicamp is competitors and educational and that the quarterback battle within the coming months could be an “all-encompassing evaluation.”

Sanders and Gabriel are transitioning to the professionals after prolonged and profitable faculty careers. Sanders was a four-year participant at FCS Jackson State earlier than following his father, Deion, to Colorado. Gabriel was a six-year participant who made 63 begins throughout stints at Oregon, Oklahoma and UCF.

Regardless of a quarterback room with loads of contenders for the beginning job, Gabriel mentioned he needs to method each observe as if he would be the starter.

“I only know one way to prepare,” Gabriel mentioned. “I only know one way to work, and that is as the starter. I’ve played a bunch of ball and have a lot of experience, so I’m going to use that to my advantage. … I think every day I approach is like I’m going to go get that rep, and I live it like that.”