'No brainer': Mike Tannenbaum calls for Browns to start Shedeur Sanders over Dillon Gabriel

The Cleveland Browns picked up two rookie quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, adding Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. That rounded out what has become a very full quarterback room without a clear starter.

With training camp underway, so is the quarterback battle in Cleveland. Amid it, former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum shared that he feels that Shedeur Sanders should ultimately start games for the Browns ahead of Dillon Gabriel, with Gabriel’s height being a key reason why.

“Guys, Shedeur Sanders,” Mike Tannenbaum said. “This is a no-brainer. I want you to take some copious notes here. Since 2000, there’s only been six quarterbacks start a game under six feet tall. That’s Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Bryce Young, PJ Walker, Seneca Wallace, and Doug Flutie. Exactly. So, to me, even though Dillon Gabriel went in the third round, I would start Shedeur Sanders. Let them fight it out on the field, but to me, Shedeur Sanders has the better pro body and more upside.”

Dillon Gabriel was selected ahead of Shedeur Sanders in the NFL Draft. Gabriel went in the third round. Sanders went from being a projected first round pick by many experts to a fifth round pick. They join a group of quarterbacks in Cleveland that includes veteran Joe Flacco, former first round pick Kenny Pickett, and the injured Deshaun Watson.

In college, but Gabriel and Sanders put up massive numbers last season. That saw Gabriel throw for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 72.9 percent of passes. For his part, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 74 percent of his passes.

Despite all of that, Sanders hasn’t seen any first-team reps to this point with Cleveland. That can be a difficult place to start from, but it also seems like a challenge he’s taking in his stride when asked about it.

“I don’t think that’s my place to answer, to give the answer to that,” Sanders said on Friday. “I feel like that it’s not in my control, so I’m not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is. There’s a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I’m here and I’m thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is.”

For now, the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation appears to be a fluid one. The Browns have options, but not a clear choice to start this upcoming season. So, Sanders will certainly have the opportunity to earn first team reps and the starting job moving forward.