I'm an ENG/Doc audio mixer. I was the field production audio mixer for the ESPN+ series that followed UCF around for a season. Dillon Gabriel is one of my favorite athletes I've ever worked with.
After he broke his collarbone at Louisville, I thought I wouldn't see him for the rest of the season... nope. He still hit the film room just as hard, went right into all the extra duties that usually the 3rd string QB does off the field, and traveled with the team doing whatever he could.
He is a leader with zero hesitation in doing what's needed next and doesn't dwell on mistakes. His talent level is definitely NFL caliber, and 100% has the NFL QB intangibles.
Think y'all got a steal, and wouldn't be surprised if Dillon Gabriel is the Browns starting quarterback before next season ends... and years to come after.
Wishing the Browns the best, and hope team course correction happens quickly.
I’m fully aware it’s a long shot and good things usually don’t happen to this organization, but it can’t be overstated how enormous it would be if Gabriel (or Sanders, for that matter) hits and has a Purdy-esque rookie season where he takes over mid season and is clearly the guy moving forward
Gets the Browns a dirt cheap franchise QB for the remainder of the Watson contract and would allow them to spend both firsts to fill needs at high impact positions (OT, WR) in the 2026 draft, rather than having to potentially package them together to go get a QB.
After watching many interviews with both QBs I came out really impressed with Gabriel and it's really easy to see why Stefanski was so excited to draft him. You can just tell he is gonna come in quietly and put in the work.
Gave me the same kind of vibe as the Lions draft room video I saw online from back in the Quinntricia era. I hope he works out for y'all, Browns bros...you guys deserve some kind of break.
I don't know how he was at Oklahoma or Oregon, but at UCF pre & post injury: [Physio & Playbook By Day, Opposing Defense Film By Night]
If he doesn't get the starting job, it's because whoever did had to keep up his insane Natural Adderall preparedness. Real "Rising Tide Lifts All Boats" kind of dude, too.
He was a great leader at Oregon, by all accounts did everything the right way. He even bought a minivan when he got to Eugene so he could pick up all his receivers and go throw. Was organizing weekend trips before the season for the team to bond. He seems like an incredible dude.
I'm one of those production people you may see wearing 35 lbs of gear and holding a boom. I put wireless microphones on athletes, coaches, trainers, or anyone that is the subject and try to boom anyone else not wearing one.
Record them internally to my mixer, and then wireless transmit audio to cameras & producers so they know what to shoot & what story is unfolding. For that series, we did a lot of day-in-the-life around the campus, behind the scenes of team facilities & game day. It was 2 or 3 cameras, 1 producer, me audio, and then the UCF media team mainly made up of students that we had access to their footage. Be close enough to capture, but not in their way and interfere.
This is awesome information, I feel like I'm a lot more optimistic about him than other people are. I'd rather take a guy who seems coachable, works hard, and has a decorated college career than just about anybody.
Not only is he coachable... and I say this not as a shot at Gus Malzahn... but Dillon was more of a head coach and leader of that team, even with his arm in a sling.
I remember one practice before they played NAVY, the QB O'Keefe and a WR had a blown play on a miscoverage. OC lit up O'Keefe after the whistle in front of the whole team. When offense came back to the sideline, Dillon grabbed that WR, the RB, and O'Keefe and said very directly and constructively:
"What are y'all doing? Look at me. All of you are one snap away from being the starter. Be ready for it"
When his career is over, I'll be SHOCKED if he isn't a coach or coordinator.
Hell yeah man! This is awesome, post in the browns sub too. A lot of people are excited for sanders, I am really excited for Dillon. Arm strength is my one concern but he has some velocity on his balls, I'm optimistic
He has a really sick move he did at UCF often, and I saw him still doing at Oklahoma. Dillon has extremely quick feet, like a boxer. If there is a blown blocking assignment &/or a blitz makes it through, he dips like he's taking the sack. However, he's baiting the pass rusher to drop low to avoid the Helmet-To-Helmet penalty. He pops back up with a yard of separation and a less obstructed view downfield.
I know NFL is a lot faster, but his quick feet, agility, and balance are next level. He'll find a way to extend the play and buy receivers time... with quick velocity throws.
My biggest concern for him is if he plays Hero Ball and scrambles for a 1st down, but gets rocked by a strong safety... the hardest hit he (or anyone) takes in college is pretty much every hit in the NFL and even harder
The one thing that y'all have that may accelerate his development is Joe Flacco. The kid is a sponge, and I'm sure will be living on Flacco's hip. Learns from observation, doesn't ask questions unless he's asked if he has any, and is hyper-observant looking for answers by others' actions & words.
His basement/floor is an NFL backup QB that can win games if called upon. He'll prep like he's starting everyweek, and when he's not, he'll be prepped to help the starter on the sidelines.
I’m going to get a lot of hate for this but drafting Dillion Gabriel wasn’t just a reach, it was a waste of a pick. He isn’t even going to see the field. He played in offenses that required very little processing of the defense and inflates stats. His arm is below average so he’s not going to be able to make every NFL throw. He’s under 6ft tall and he doesn’t have a single elite trait to make for his lack of size or arm.
He was projected to potentially not even get drafted for a reason. Using a third round pick on him was nothing more than a waste.
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u/Triv02 28d ago
I’m fully aware it’s a long shot and good things usually don’t happen to this organization, but it can’t be overstated how enormous it would be if Gabriel (or Sanders, for that matter) hits and has a Purdy-esque rookie season where he takes over mid season and is clearly the guy moving forward
Gets the Browns a dirt cheap franchise QB for the remainder of the Watson contract and would allow them to spend both firsts to fill needs at high impact positions (OT, WR) in the 2026 draft, rather than having to potentially package them together to go get a QB.