Dillon Gabriel Responds to Critics of Height, NFL Draft Stock: 'I'm Not For Everyone'

Dillon Gabriel has all the makings of a traditional quarterback from his arm to his accuracy and to his vision, but he lacks one thing that most elite starting quarterbacks have: height.

But at 5'11", the former Oregon star believes he's just as capable as quarterbacks who stand above 6'0". He also believes the right teams will be able to look past his height at this year's NFL draft.

"For me, every team that I met with that I feel really good about have voiced to me that they don't give a rip about it," Gabriel said. "They value me for the right things, and that's decision making, efficiency, accuracy, all things that translate. And to be quite honest, all the guys that have done it have been just fine. To each their own. I'm not for everyone, but I don't want to be like anyone else either, so that works in my favor."

Gabriel also pointed out that despite being smaller than most quarterbacks, he's found success at every level.

"I've had the most experience ever as you can imagine starting in high school as a freshman all the way into my senior year on varsity, and then I've done the same thing in college," Gabriel said, per ESPN's Turron Davenport. "I'm a leader. I'm a winner. I've won at all three spots, and I've done it in big games."

Gabriel, who spent time at UCF, Oklahoma and finally Oregon, was a Heisman finalist in 2024 after he threw for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He added 149 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Succeeding in the NFL as a quarterback shorter than 6'0" is far from impossible. Russell Wilson has done it for more than a decade, while Kyler Murray and Bryce Young are continuing to prove themselves.

Gabriel will look to establish himself as the next great quarterback who overcame criticism of his size.