Following his six collegiate seasons between UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Dillon Gabriel is off to the NFL.
The lefty quarterback enjoyed plenty of success in college over his various stops, most recently leading Oregon to a Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff berth in 2024. Now, though, Gabriel is focused on the next level.
Gabriel, however, isn't considered the same kind of top-tier prospect as some of his passing counterparts in the 2025 NFL Draft class, like Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders. While he's still likely to be drafted, Gabriel wasn't a Day 1 pick and may not be a Day 2 selection either.
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Where could Gabriel go in the draft? Here's more on his draft case and projections.
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Where will Dillon Gabriel be drafted?
Chances are, Gabriel will be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. But it likely won't be in the first few rounds.
Gabriel has the college numbers and track record to be given a decent shot in the NFL; he comes into the league with six years of experience in college. Gabriel trails only Case Keenum in NCAA career passing yards. He also rarely gives the ball away, throwing just 32 interceptions over his six seasons in college.
In the right system, Gabriel can excel. He's a very accurate passer in short-range situations and fairly mobile. However, he leaves a lot to be desired as a prospect in a few areas.
For one, Gabriel is small for an NFL quarterback at 5'11'', 205 pounds. He also operated almost exclusively as a short-range passer in college, not often displaying a big arm or the ability to make a long-range throw. To succeed in the NFL, Gabriel would need a strong collection of weapons around him, focusing on his ability to distribute the ball in a quick and accurate manner.
Due to those limitations, Gabriel is expected to enter the NFL as an experienced backup.
"Gabriel is an older and smaller QB prospect, but he offers a tremendous amount of game experience and productivity. He operates with poise and confidence from the pocket," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote of Gabriel. "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."
Here's where several high-profile seven-round mock drafts projected Gabriel to land:
- Sporting News: Round 3, Pick No. 99 to Giants
- The Athletic: Round 4, Pick No. 135 to Dolphins
- NFL.com: Round 4, Pick No. 135 to Dolphins
- ESPN: Round 6, Pick No. 201 to Rams
- CBS Sports: Round 5, Pick No. 152 to Cardinals
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Dillon Gabriel college stats
Here's a look at Gabriel's numbers at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon:
| Season | Team | Games | Completions-Attempts | Completion % | Pass Yards | AVG | Pass TDs | INTs | Rating | Rush Yards | Rush TDs |
| 2019 | UCF | 13 | 236-398 | 59.3% | 3,653 | 9.2 | 29 | 7 | 156.9 | 78 | 4 |
| 2020 | UCF | 10 | 248-413 | 60.0% | 3,570 | 8.6 | 32 | 4 | 156.3 | 169 | 2 |
| 2021 | UCF | 3 | 70-102 | 68.6% | 814 | 8.0 | 9 | 3 | 158.9 | 125 | 2 |
| 2022 | Oklahoma | 12 | 230-367 | 62.7% | 3,168 | 8.6 | 25 | 6 | 154.4 | 315 | 6 |
| 2023 | Oklahoma | 12 | 266-384 | 69.3% | 3,660 | 9.5 | 30 | 6 | 172.0 | 373 | 12 |
| 2024 | Oregon | 14 | 326-447 | 72.9% | 3,857 | 8.6 | 30 | 6 | 164.9 | 149 | 7 |
| Totals: | 64 | 1,376-2,111 | 65.2% | 18,722 | 8.9 | 155 | 32 | 160.9 | 1,209 | 33 |