Steelers Have Potential To Make Browns Look Foolish After Polarizing Draft Blunder

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have had a fairly tight rivalry over the last several seasons, with both teams getting below-average quarterback play over that time span. The quarterback situations within both organizations are two of the biggest question marks in the league, and they will each be watched closely as the 2025 season approaches. The starter for each team is still unknown, while each side has some promising rookie talent at the position that could make it onto the field in their first year in the league.

The Browns and Steelers were each obviously going to draft a quarterback going into the 2025 NFL Draft, it was just a question of which round? Cleveland waited until the third round where the organization selected Dillon Gabriel, and the Browns double-dipped by grabbing Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round as well. Pittsburgh waited until the sixth round as it grabbed Will Howard with the 185th pick. The Browns selecting two quarterbacks was bizarre, especially the pick of Gabriel and how early he went. A Power 4 defensive coordinator spoke with Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, and he shared his thoughts on the selections.

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

Gabriel flying off the board in the third round was a shock to most NFL and college football fans. He does not have the ideal size to play quarterback in the NFL, but his years of experience as a starter in college must have been attractive to some teams. Cleveland will now have to manage a quarterback competition that is made up of two rookies in Gabriel and Sanders, as well as Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.

As the 2025 NFL Draft grows smaller in the rear view, the pick of Gabriel in the third round by Cleveland seems worse and worse. Most had him evaluated as a Day 3 selection, yet the Browns reached and still decided to pick another quarterback two rounds later. The quarterback room is shaping up to be a mess, and Gabriel will see more competition than he ever has to get back on the field.

On the other hand, Howard is in a wide open situation in Pittsburgh. Mason Rudolph is currently penciled in as the starter, but a lot can change while the team still pursues Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully Howard can find a way to see the field during his rookie season or in 2026, but many believe he has the better chance of having a successful NFL career over Gabriel. 

Cleveland drafted two quarterbacks before Pittsburgh selected Howard, and if he can have a more successful career than both Gabriel and Sanders, the Browns will have proved once again that they are one of the most clueless and worst franchises in the NFL.

Steelers In A Much Worse Position Than The Browns At Quarterback

While the Browns’ quarterback room is laughable going into the 2025 season, the organization did pull off a draft night trade that secured Cleveland an additional first round selection in 2026. If none of the current quarterbacks show any promise, Cleveland could package those picks and be at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. This is significant considering the promising quarterback class that should be entering the NFL at that time.

Pittsburgh on the other hand will likely be picking behind Cleveland, and will also need a franchise quarterback. It will be difficult to leapfrog the Browns, but that is a moot point if Howard is able to get on the field and perform well by then. It is a long shot that Howard will become a good starter at the NFL level, but if he does, he will make the Browns look like fools while curing Pittsburgh's quarterback needs.

What do you think about the remarks from the anonymous defensive coordinator? Let us know in the comments below!

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