FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dillon Gabriel
Dillon Gabriel (QB – Oregon)
5-foot-11 | 200 Pounds
Background
Dillon Gabriel’s father Garrett played quarterback for Hawaii. Gabriel was a three-star recruit who originally attended UCF, where he took over the starting job during the first game of the season, going 9-3 as a starter and ending up with 3,653 yards (59.3% completion rate, 9.2 yards per attempt), 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Went 6-4 as the starter in 2020, with 3,570 yards (60.0% completion rate, 8.6 yards per attempt), 32 touchdowns and four interceptions. Sustained a season-ending clavicle injury three starts into his 2021 season. Transferred to Oklahoma after that, where he passed for 3,168 yards (62.7% completion rate, 8.6 yards per attempt), 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. Went 6-6 in 2022.
Went 10-2 as the Sooners’ starter in 2023, with 3,660 yards (69.3% completion rate, 9.5 yards per attempt), 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. He added another 12 scores on the ground. He then transferred to Oregon. Led the Ducks to a 13-1 record this past year, with 3,857 yards (72.9% completion rate, 8.6 yards per attempt), 30 touchdowns and six interceptions, finishing his career second all-time in college passing yards behind Case Keenum.
Positives
Gabriel is one of the most productive college quarterbacks of all time. The left-handed thrower has succeeded in multiple prolific offenses. Shows clean footwork in his drops, without a heel click at the end. Looks light on his feet in the pocket. Makes sound decisions with the football to limit turnovers. Will dump it off to his check-down option when his reads aren’t there.
Gabriel has a fluid throwing motion with a high release point to mitigate his lack of height. A good pure thrower of the football, with solid juice on his passes and a tight spiral. Trusts his arm and shows some willingness to put throws in tight windows. Knows when to throw a bullet and when to take something off of his throws. Gets plenty of air under his deep shots. Able to complete passes on designed rollouts, typically to the left. Senses pressure well.
Can escape from pressure and continue to scan for targets or pick up yardage with his feet; has some playmaking skills when the play breaks down, showing poise under pressure. Very good athlete who may not have had the gaudiest statistics as a rusher, but who is capable of carrying the ball on the occasional designed run, with impressive top-end speed.
Negatives
Will turn 25 as a rookie. At just under 5-foot-11, Gabriel will be one of the shortest quarterbacks in the league. Will likely have to work through progressions much faster at the next level, as he was able to take his time operating from a lot of very clean pockets. Statistics were somewhat padded by a high percentage of screens and other short, predetermined throws.
Moves around unnecessarily in the pocket at times and doesn’t always throw from a stable base. Could do a better job of getting his heels dug in on throws. Has some tendencies to stare down targets. Likes to see his guys open rather than throwing with anticipation. Despite completing such a high rate of his passes over the past two seasons, ball placement isn’t the most accurate. Forces adjustments that limit yards after the catch. Tends to miss short/low throws.
Summary
One of college football’s most productive quarterbacks ever, Gabriel may not be the tallest or most accurate quarterback, but he plays with good composure and uses his athleticism to create and show solid arm talent. His ability to extend the play and calmly scan for targets allowed him to make plays off-script that more athletically limited quarterbacks simply can’t access.
Having shown he’s able to learn and produce in different offenses should help his stock, as he will have to learn to work through more progressions than he typically does. Needs to break his habit of staring down targets. Has been getting some second-day hype, but it wouldn’t be a shock if he slipped to the third round.
Projection: Round 4
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Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)
A confident rhythm-based passer who works through progressions, makes pretty good decisions with the football and throws with impressive accuracy/placement. At his best, pulls the trigger early, puts the ball right on his target and works his way down the field methodically through a series of short and intermediate throws over the middle of the field.
However, Sadners can sometimes be too slow to get the ball out, can’t consistently escape from pressure when he’s being pursued and his overall arm talent is closer to adequate. Could draw a wide range of evaluations, as he’s not a perfect fit for every scheme, but still looks to be in the conversation for the first overall pick. He should easily be one of the first two or three passers off the board.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Shedeur Sanders
A highly productive five-year starter who made major strides this past season after arriving at Miami. Ward plays with impressive composure, shows the ability to work through full-field reads and has solid arm talent and accuracy. Is capable of escaping from pressure and making the occasional splash play. At the same time, there are some risky elements to his game, which often come as a result of trying to do too much, leading to dangerous throws, interceptions or fumbles.
Consequently, how willing teams are to tolerate that risk to reap the rewards of his playmaking skills will be interesting to monitor. Either way, Ward is among the candidates to go first overall and should be one of the first couple of quarterbacks off the board.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Cam Ward
One of the most physically and athletically gifted dual-threat quarterback prospects you’ll see, with plenty of arm strength and elite speed, explosiveness and power as a runner who has some work to do on his game. To reach his sky-high potential he needs to show more consistent weight transfer on his throws, increased touch underneath, slightly faster processing and improved play under pressure.
However, those types of issues could be remedied with experience and coaching, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a patient and somewhat risk-tolerant team take a shot on him in the first round.
Projection: Round 1/Round 2
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Jalen Milroe
More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Quarterbacks
- Jaxson Dart (Mississippi)
- Tyler Shough (Louisville)
- Will Howard (Ohio State)
- Quinn Ewers (Texas)
- Riley Leonard (Notre Dame)
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse)
- Kurtis Rourke (Indiana)
- Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
- Max Brosmer (Minnesota)
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