The Minnesota Vikings are one of many teams in the league that will likely show an interest in some of the Day 3 quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Of the more noteworthy names, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel may stand out as the most refined prospect among them.
Having to overcome some concerns about his size and overall athletic ability, Gabriel rode his accurate left arm to a Heisman Trophy third-place finish and one of the most productive careers in college football history.
Would it be worth it for a team in the pros to sign themselves up for the Gabriel experience, even after seeing some of the flaws that will limit his stock?
Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 205
- Recruiting: 2019 3-star, No. 754 national, No. 27 PRO QB, No. 9 HI, UCF + Oklahoma transfer
Positives
- Very smart player at the line of scrimmage who is capable of diagnosing pre-snap and post-snap to great effect.
- Some of the best pocket mobility in this class, able to avoid sacks and throw accurately when on the move.
- Accuracy as a whole is tremendous, elite ball placement on intermediate throws and showcases solid deep ball accuracy.
- Six-year starter with experience in multiple offensive systems, was able to execute all of them.
Gabriel is deadeye accurate on any throw inside of 15 yards, showing high-end ball placement and the ability to anticipate as well as any quarterback in this class. When there is pressure, Gabriel can make some moves to dodge that incoming heat and still deliver with accuracy.
Gabriel has started at three different schools in six years, running pro-style, Air Raid, and spread schemes with aplomb. While he will be an older rookie, that could help him translate his college success to the professional ranks.
Negatives
- Huge size outlier, 5-11 height and lack of elite athletic ability could make him a tough sell for some GMs.
- Smaller hands and below-average arm strength lead to some of his worst throws coming when he has to drive the ball outside the numbers.
- Lacks the movement skills needed to become a great runner or creator out of structure at the next level.
If Gabriel were 6-3, he probably would be a fringe first-round pick. However, there have been few quarterbacks in NFL history that are his size, even fewer that are left-handed, and even fewer than that who had some degree of success. His accuracy can only take him so far.
With smaller hands and a weaker arm, it could be a tough sell for a team that plays most of its games in cold weather or outdoors to take a gamble on him. The biggest issue with that is that no amount of coaching may be able to fix that limitation.
Dillon Gabriel NFL Player Comparison: Left-Handed Bo Nix
Nix is a bit bigger than Gabriel, but both of them would be at home in an offense that would let them quickly strike on shorter throws and take advantage of their above-average accuracy.
Dillon Gabriel 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Mid 5th Round
The physical limitations won't necessarily bar him from a solid NFL career, but they will likely make it tough for someone to see Gabriel as a starter. Still, he profiles as a long-term backup that fans should feel very comfortable with.