NFL coordinator, execs express massive concern on Dillon Gabriel ahead of NFL Draft
Dillon Gabriel is the most experienced quarterback in the history of college football and, with that, in this class for the 2025 NFL Draft. That said, one aspect of his evaluation is holding him back in the opinion of several personnel around the league.
A group of executives, coaches, and scouts evaluated the quarterback class in a piece this week by Tom Pelissero at NFL.com. That included, for Gabriel, several references to his size and how it’d limit him in going from college to the pros, despite his successes at the collegiate level at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
“Gabriel is polished as can be. He’s just short,” said a scouting director in the NFC.
“There’s just some things in your offense you can’t do. You have to worry a little bit about his limitations.” an NFC executive said. “He started 60-something games and there are not enough quarterbacks. Just very average arm strength. Small. How is he going to survive on third down until the game slows down for him?”
That just continued with each assessment of Gabriel in the article. They each gave him credit for his processing, technique, and production that he showed in college. Still, height, weight, and arm strength based on his measurements during this process were persistent in each quote from those around the NFL.
“He’s been really good everywhere he’s been. But obviously the size is a thing,” said a quarterbacks coach in the NFC “You have to always give smart guys that have been productive their due because there’s a reason they’ve had success.”
“He’s a good player. I just think he’s so little,” an AFC coordinator said. “What did he do before the combine to weigh in at 205 — swallow concrete?”
With that, a comparison came up for him to a quarterback in the last draft with Bo Nix, who also played his final college season with the Ducks. Still, Nix, the Broncos’ starter this past year, had a few inches of height on him with better athleticism.
“Bo just had a better arm. He’s actually probably more athletic,” an NFC scout said. “He sees the field better. And then he’s 6-2 and Gabriel is 5-11. That’s tiny.”
“It’s hard to be short with medium arm talent and not run,” said a coordinator in the NFC.
Size is not such a problem that Gabriel couldn’t play in the league, especially with his 64-game resumé that includes 292.5 yards per game on 65.2% completion with 155 passing touchdowns, which tied for a collegiate record all-time. It’s something teams will have to consider, though, in how they’d be able to use him on offense. based on that frame.
“Dillon’s small, but he can throw it,” an AFC quarterbacks coach said. “There’s a way to play offense with him: play-action, move the pocket, then drop back. He’s a good player, but he’s little, so you’ve got to play that way. But he can spin it.”
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