Dillon Gabriel had some struggles against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game the Browns ultimately won, but his performance led to questions about the quarterback that Kevin Stefanski had to answer with conviction.

© Getty ImagesDillon Gabriel #5 of the Cleveland Browns walks on the field before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kevin Stefanski watched his team win another preseason game, this time against the Super Bowl-defending Philadelphia Eagles.

However, it was a game where Dillon Gabriel unfortunately had two turnovers that, while not catastrophic, did raise questions from reporters about the young quarterback.

The good news for Gabriel is that despite his interception and fumble against the Eagles, his head coach came to his defense, telling reporters, “All interceptions are not created equal.”

It’s worth noting that Gabriel completed just 13 of 18 passes and did not throw a single touchdown.

For Stefanski, Gabriel’s mistakes are correctable. “As coaches, we’ve got to get them on the same page. 

We can never do that, ever.“ The game against the Eagles marked Gabriel’s worst preseason performance in terms of turnovers.

Can Gabriel Win the Starting QB Position?

Nothing is official yet, just rumors and speculation about who will be the starter for the upcoming regular season. Gabriel has no guaranteed spot. However, several podcasters and specialists on the subject of the Browns have offered their opinions.

“Nothing of that performance to me said this is the guy who should be stealing first-team reps while Shedeur’s fourth.

If anything, I got the impression it should be the opposite,” a host said on “The Dawgs,” a Browns-focused podcast, about whether Gabriel can surpass Shedeur Sanders.

On the other hand, NFL insider John Frascella gave his opinion, stating: “You can say whatever you want about Dillon Gabriel’s height – it’s a low blow – but this kid can SPOT the ball… remember this is one of the greatest college football quarterbacks EVER.”

How Good Was Gabriel in College?

One of his best stats is the 155 touchdowns he threw during his college career, which puts him in a tie with Case Keenum.

He played for three different teams—UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon—and stood out at each one.

At every stop, he had at least one season with over 30 touchdowns and a minimum of 3,000 passing yards.

Sanders, despite playing only two seasons with the same team in college, also had over 3,000 yards in both and threw 37 touchdowns in his last season.