Dillon Gabriel Named Browns QB2 Over Shedeur Sanders Behind Joe Flacco

The pecking order has been established in Cleveland, and Dillon Gabriel is second on it behind Joe Flacco.

The Browns announced on Tuesday that the rookie quarterback would serve as Flacco's backup ahead of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders.

The news doesn't come as a surprise after the Browns gave Gabriel the start in the team's second preseason game. He was also the second quarterback to play in the preseason finale. After Kenny Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, Gabriel was seen as the frontrunner to be the backup.

He was solid if inconsistent during his two preseason appearances, finishing 25-of-37 for 272 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumble lost. He took two sacks in total.

Sanders likely sealed his fate in the final preseason game, taking five sacks, while a hamstring injury kept Pickett sidelined for the entire preseason before he was dealt.

There has been a clamoring from fans and some pundits alike to see Sanders given more chances to prove himself. There was certainly a backlash to Stefanski's decision to give the final drive of the team's last preseason game to Tyler Huntley—a player who was released shortly thereafter—rather than Sanders.

But the Browns clearly saw enough from Gabriel to go with him as the backup instead. It won't be a surprise if he eventually takes over as the starting option this season.