Insider reveals Kevin Stefanski's true feelings on Browns' Dillon Gabriel

Jon Conahan

Insider reveals Kevin Stefanski's true feelings on Browns' Dillon Gabriel image

Some haven't been happy with the Cleveland Browns' decision to make former Oregon standout Dillon Gabriel the QB2, while others think it's the right move to have him over former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. 

Regardless of how people feel, the Oregon product got the nod from head coach Kevin Stefanski, and as of right now, he'll be in the game if Joe Flacco were to get injured for the Browns.

But there has to be a reason for it, right?

Browns' Dillon Gabriel receivers major praise

According to NFL analyst Greg Cosell, there's a reason why the Browns liked Gabriel so much coming out of college. 

Per Cosell, Stefanski loves his game and believes that he has an opportunity to play at the highest level in the NFL.

“Yeah, well, he fits Kevin Stefanski, and Kevin Stefanski really liked him coming out because of the way he plays. Gabriel is purely a timing-and-rhythm player. Stylistically, you’d say he’s similar to Tua Tagovailoa in that he hits his back foot and the ball comes out. 

"That’s how Kevin Stefanski envisions his offense, and there’s a ton of play-action in it. He sees Gabriel as the kind of quarterback who can efficiently run what he wants to do. It’s all about timing and rhythm, and that’s exactly how Gabriel plays. Obviously, he’s under six feet, so he’s not big. His arm is a little better than people might think, and he does have enough mobility,” Cosell said.

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Gabriel still has plenty to prove at the highest level, similar to Sanders, but this is promising news for the youngster. 

He'll have to show that he's just as good as he was at Oregon in the NFL, which won't be an easy task.

Jon Conahan

Jon Conahan is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. A 2022 Penn State University graduate who majored in journalism, he was also a member of the school's D1 baseball team. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Heavy and other outlets. Jon makes home in North Jersey, but also resides in Cape Coral, Florida, for parts of the year. He’s an avid fan of the New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins and Milwaukee Bucks.