Cleveland selected Gabriel in the third round following his stellar lone season with the Oregon Ducks, one which saw him throw for a career-high 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading Oregon to a Big Ten title and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

Shedeur Sanders proclaimed himself the best quarterback of the NFL's incoming rookie class before the start of the 2025 draft. The Colorado signal-caller went untouched in Round 1, however, then slid all the way into Round 3 by Friday night.

Thus, many were shocked when Cleveland drafted Oregon's Dillon Gabriel at pick No. 94. The Browns then made the most noteworthy move of the fifth round when they traded up to select Sanders with the No. 144 overall choice.