2025 NFL Draft: Pete Thamel teases Dillon Gabriel as player to watch on Day Two

Dillon Gabriel is one of many quarterbacks still on the board as prospects anxiously await Round 2 of the NFL Draft to kick off on Friday. Ahead of the opening Day 2 pick, ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided some insight on where Gabriel stands in the draft.

“One name that buzzed through my phone today that I thought was fascinating was Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. In ESPN’s rankings, he is eighth-best quarterback. I’ve heard that there’s some teams that like him, and he could become a consideration in Round 3.”

Gabriel is one of the most experienced prospects in the draft. He began his career at UCF before transferring to Oklahoma and then Oregon. In his six collegiate seasons, Gabriel amassed 18,722 passing yards and 155 touchdowns while completing 65.2% of his pass attempts.

Gabriel saved his best for last, exploding for a career-high 3,857 passing yards and 30 TDs, compared to just six interceptions, in the 2024 campaign at Oregon. In Oregon’s first season in the Big Ten, Gabriel led the program to a conference championship and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

Despite Gabriel’s stunning statistics at the collegiate level, some scouts are concerned his game will translate to the next level. Numerous experts are particularly concerned by Gabriel’s size.

At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Dillon Gabriel is significantly smaller than most NFL quarterbacks. However, there are exceptions in the league, such as Kyler Murray and Bryce Young, who have found success. Ahead of the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein provided an in-depth analysis of Gabriel’s game.

“Gabriel is an older and smaller QB prospect, but he offers a tremendous amount of game experience and productivity,” Zierlein wrote. “He operates with poise and confidence from the pocket. His field vision is average, but he typically takes care of the football. He’s capable of playing within the confines of an offense and can create yards with his legs as needed.

“Gabriel’s accuracy and timing is accurate on shorter throws, but the placement becomes erratic when pushed outside of his comfortable range. He might require a ball-control passing game to help manage his lack of arm talent and keep him from throwing into closing windows. He’s an effective scrambler who is able to elude pressure and make plays outside of the pocket. Gabriel requires a very specific offensive fit, but he’s a gamer with enough good tape to have a chance to become a decent backup.”