Two spots after Jalen Milroe was taken by the Seahawks, the Browns selected Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel with the last of their four picks on Day 2 of the draft.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst of the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Day 2 of Browns draft …
What the Browns did on the first day of their draft on Thursday was a big surprise. No less a surprise was what they did at the end of their second day.
The Browns finally took a quarterback with the second of their third-round selections, No. 94 overall.
It wasn’t Shedeur Sanders, who was still undrafted, and it wasn’t Jalen Milroe, who was take two spots earlier by the Seahawks.
It was Dillon Gabriel of Oregon. Yes, the under-sized (5-11), over-aged (24+ years old) lefthander who amassed more than 18,000 passing yards and 155 touchdowns in 63 college starts at Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon.
Nationally, the biggest surprise continued to be Sanders’ deep decline through three rounds and 102 selections.
It seems the only ones not surprised were the 32 general managers who selected five quarterbacks not named Sanders through three rounds.
“I think it’s unfair for me to comment on behalf of the industry,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said of Sanders’ stunning fall into the third day of the draft. “All I can say is this: the time we spent with Shedeur and what he he’s done throughout his career is impressive. He’s an impressive young man and a really good quarterback. Sometimes fit comes into play.
“I’d also say this: there are four more rounds of the draft. Maybe lastly, it’s less about where you get picked than what you do after you get picked. That’s really the most important thing. Getting to know him, he has a ton of resolve and I think he’s going to find himself in a really good spot.”
Here’s a look at what the Browns did with their four picks on Day 2.
* 33rd overall, LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
He’s the highest-picked linebacker in Berry’s six drafts. Ironically, the previous high was Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who was taken 52nd overall in 2021 and whose career is on hold after a neck injury last season. Schwesinger, 6-2 ½ and 242 pounds, was a no-star recruit who walked on to UCLA, played special teams for two years and then burst out his junior year as a three-down linebacker. He led all FBS players with 136 tackles and added two interceptions. The Browns won’t address JOK’s playing status in 2025, but spending a high pick on Schwesinger tells us he’s expected to challenge for a starting role next to veteran Jordan Hicks. “An extremely productive, extremely smart, very versatile [linebacker], kind of fits exactly the identity we want on defense,” said assistant GM Glenn Cook. “I think if you were to ask what the vision potentially could be, I mean, he’s a really smart kid, exceptionally great football IQ. I have no questions about his ability to be the green dot [to relay play-calls in the huddle], if that’s what we need from him.”
* 36th overall, RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
He came off the board two picks before Buckeye running mate TreVeyon Henderson, who was selected 38th by the Patriots. “No matter if I was drafted first or he be drafted first, it wouldn’t have mattered to either one of us because I know what it takes to win a national championship. What it takes is a selfless guy who truly puts the program first, and that’s who we both are,” Judkins said. The Browns characterize Judkins as “an AFC North back.” “He brings the brand of football that we want,” Cook said. “Exceptionally strong, physical, tough, productive three-down guy. I know [running backs coach] Duce [Staley] is extremely excited, wanted to drive down and pick him up tonight.” So why Judkins over Henderson? “He’s very, very tough, very physical, very strong and he just plays the brand of ball that we want,” Cook said. “Look, both those guys are really talented. For us it just came down to preference in this option.” Assistant GM Catherine Hickman made a reference to Nick Chubb, in terms of style. “The way he runs with strength is something I’ve seen in Nick,” she said. Speaking of the popular Chubb, who is still unsigned, this selection doesn’t discount a return. But Judkins could easily be seen as the team’s new No. 1 back. Berry called him "really a bell-cow, versatile runner."
* 67th overall, TE Harold Fannin, Jr., Bowling Green
Coming off the most productive season for a tight end in FBS history (117 receptions for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns), Fannin’s selection further assures a return to Kevin Stefanski’s two-tight end offensive scheme. The converted safety from Canton McKinley HS put himself on the NFL map with outstanding games against college powers Penn State (11, 137, 1TD) and Texas A&M (8, 145, 1TD). “He’s really kind of the queen on the chess board,” Berry said. “He’s a really good ball-in-hand player, separates as a pass catcher, and despite being a little bit undersized, he’s really good blocker and he fits perfectly in terms of what Kevin and Tommy [Rees] want to do with this offense.” Fannin is the first player from the Mid-American Conference selected in Berry’s six drafts with the Browns. And he’s the first MAC player overall drafted by the Browns since Akron quarterback Charlie Frye in 2004.
* 94th overall, QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
The 5-11, 195-pound lefthander played three seasons at Central Florida, two at Oklahoma and one at Oregon. He was totally under radar as the Browns criss-crossed the country interviewing and working out quarterbacks. “We spent a lot of time with Dillon throughout this process,” Berry said. “We brought him in right after the combine, had private visit and workout at Eugene. Decorated college career, very accurate, very poised, throws with anticipation, good mobility. We just thought he had a real well-rounded game. The biggest negative is he doesn’t have ideal height, but that’s not something that we felt showed up in his game film.” Gabriel said, “This is right where I need to be. It’s perfect the way it played out.” The Browns maintain every quarterback on their roster will compete for the starting job. Gabriel would seem an extreme longshot behind Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett despite his plentiful college experience. “My expectation is just creating value and creating impact,: Gabriel said. "I only know how to be the starter. But I also know a healthy quarterback room is important. I look forward to whatever I walk into.”