Dillon Gabriel in check, while Shedeur Sanders takes command in Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns were the kings of the preseason for everything except their actual projection for 2025. The noise came from the quarterback carousel. Kenny Pickett arrived from the Eagles and ended up traded to the Raiders without playing a single preseason snap due to injuries. Joe Flacco took the job before the Draft, lost the starting role by Week 4, and now suits up for the Bengals. The injury and lackluster performance of Dillon Gabriel forced desperate decisions. With that chaos, the team made an unexpected move: Shedeur Sanders, who began as the fourth option, will start against Las Vegas.

Remember that the week after Flacco’s fall, Dillon Gabriel stepped in to lead the Browns. However, the offense fell short. His record as a starter is 1–5, with only one game above 200 passing yards. His lone win leaned more on the running game and defense against Miami than on his arm. In the middle of the debate, Rafael Zamorano (ON SI) gathered opinions from several analysts. Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) was blunt. Gabriel’s arm hovers between average and slightly below depending on the day, with little ability to attack tight windows or stretch the field beyond 25 yards. That lack of verticality was exposed despite Kevin Stefanski’s public confidence. The breaking point came with the concussion protocol after the Ravens game. That moment opened the door for Shedeur Sanders.

The debate begins

For Shedeur Sanders, this debut is not just a first step. He will be the 42nd starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999. That number says a lot about Cleveland’s maze. Since then, the team has reached the playoffs only four times. In that context, the franchise once had a “near” solution in Baker Mayfield, whom they let go—something that, in hindsight, raises questions about whether they rushed the decision. Outlets like Marca underline that Deion Sanders’ son arrives with confidence and his own narrative before the debut. He has the chance to shift convictions inside the staff if his performance backs up the talk. In other words, he could do better than Dillon Gabriel.

 

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For Dillon Gabriel, the threat is real. A convincing performance by Shedeur Sanders could shut the window in Cleveland and, by extension, complicate his NFL storyline. The team needs rhythm, explosiveness, and decisions that lift everyone else. So far, Gabriel has not helped his receivers grow nor imposed a vertical plan to relieve the offense.

Much at stake for both

For Shedeur Sanders, the challenge is twofold: sustain confidence with execution, read coverages without costly turnovers, and show leadership in real game situations, not just in the buildup. If he delivers, the message is clear: Cleveland can rebuild around him.

 

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The Browns’ situation is not a passing crisis; it is a long search for a quarterback who can change the franchise’s destiny. Sunday against the Raiders will be less of a test and more of a short-term verdict. If Shedeur Sanders brings order and spark, Kevin Stefanski will have reasons to rewrite the script. If not, the carousel keeps spinning. In any case, this story—as Marca points out—is the tension point where opportunity, pressure, and real consequences collide for Dillon Gabriel and for a team that needs more than temporary fixes.