CFB Coach Questions Browns Drafting Dillon Gabriel in 3rd over 6th-Rounder Will Howard

One FBS college football coach wondered this week why Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel was selected three rounds earlier than Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the 2025 NFL draft.

Speaking to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, a Power 4 defensive coordinator said:

"I don't see the evaluation of Gabriel over Howard. I'm not saying either one of them is more talented than [Shedeur] Sanders, but Will Howard's a better pro prospect than Gabriel with the size, arm strength, the passing tree that he had to throw at Ohio State."

The Browns raised some eyebrows with the 94th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft when they took Gabriel, making him the fifth quarterback off the board behind Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe.

In addition to the surprise of Gabriel going on Day 2 despite being widely viewed as a Day 3 prospect, Cleveland shocked the world by taking Gabriel over Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

The Browns made Sanders the next quarterback taken two rounds later when they selected him 144th overall in the fifth round, adding him to a quarterback room that includes Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Gabriel and the injured Deshaun Watson.

Three rounds after Gabriel was taken, the Steelers finally grabbed a developmental quarterback with the No. 185 overall pick in the sixth round when they took Howard.

Gabriel was a hugely productive player over the course of six collegiate seasons at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting last season by virtue of completing 72.9 percent of his passes for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions to go along with 149 yards and seven scores on the ground.

As for Howard, he transferred to Ohio State as a fifth-year senior after four seasons at Kansas State. He completed 73.0 percent of his passing attempts for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while also rushing for 226 yards and seven scores.

Oregon and Ohio State met twice last season, and while Gabriel and the Ducks prevailed 32-31 in the first game, Howard and the Buckeyes won a 41-21 blowout in the Rose Bowl.

With Howard leading the way, Ohio State went on to win the national championship, making it somewhat surprising that he lasted as long as he did in the draft.

In Cleveland, Gabriel will have a legitimate chance to compete for the starting job with Pickett, Flacco and Sanders as a rookie.

Things are a bit less certain for Howard in Pittsburgh since the Steelers are still waiting on an answer from Rodgers regarding whether he intends to sign with them.

If Rodgers does sign, Howard will almost certainly be the Steelers' third quarterback, but if he doesn't, it isn't outside the realm of possibility that Howard could push Mason Rudolph for the starting job.

Given that they both played in the Big Ten collegiately and were drafted by NFL rivals, Gabriel and Howard may be compared to each other for many years to come.