The Cleveland Browns made several surprising picks on the second night of the 2025 NFL Draft, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel at No. 94. This move has raised questions about the team’s quarterback room and its chances of improving.
General manager Andrew Berry said the pick was about believing in linebacker Carson Schwesinger more than anything else, but the selection feels like the Browns acknowledging that linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah won’t play in 2025 due to a significant neck injury. The Browns have a type of linebacker they like, and this pick suggests they’re willing to take a chance on an instinctual and rangy player.
Schwesinger’s selection also raises questions about the team’s offense, which has multiple needs. The Browns plan to establish a power run game and involve tight ends in multiple ways, but reaching for Gabriel in the top 100 picks seems puzzling given his limited ceiling as an NFL backup.
Gabriel was graded as a third-day selection, and his age (24) makes it hard to see him claiming the starting job this season or making significant contributions in future seasons. The Browns’ emphasis on athleticism in their draft class is clear, but it’s now unclear if Gabriel fits into that plan.
The Browns also passed on several players who could have addressed some of their most pressing needs, including receivers and offensive linemen. This decision may be a sign that they’re taking a long-term view of things, but it’s hard to see how this approach will yield results in the short term.
With the draft nearly over and the offseason program underway, it’s time for the Browns to clarify their plan for the quarterback room and offense. Can anyone feel confident about what’s ahead, given the team’s history with quarterbacks and the lack of significant improvement? Only time will tell if the Browns’ surprising picks are a sign of things to come or a mistake that will haunt them in the seasons to come.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6311305/2025/04/26/browns-quarterback-dillon-gabriel-nfl-draft