A look at Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel's potential future

The Oregon Ducks' 2024 season may have concluded, but for some players, the journey is just beginning. That statement holds true for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is gearing up to hear his name called during the 2025 NFL draft in late April.

Gabriel concluded a storied collegiate career with a stop in Eugene for his sixth and final season, leading the Ducks to a 13-1 record and a Big Ten championship in the team's first season in the conference.

He finished third in Heisman Trophy voting, behind Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty, completing 72.9% of his passes for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Looking ahead to his future, many are wondering where Gabriel will wind up in the NFL. Here is a dive into the quarterback's NFL future and where he could find himself selected in the draft.

When will Dillon Gabriel be drafted?

PFF ranks Gabriel as the third quarterback on its NFL draft big board, behind Cam Ward and Sheduer Sanders, both of whom are projected to be off the board in the first 10 picks. But where does that leave Dillon Gabriel? That's a tough question to gauge for several reasons.

For one, this year's quarterback class is filled with uncertainty. Quarterback-needy teams in the NFL are far more likely to dip into free agency to land their guy rather than holding out for a middle-round draft prospect.

Another question concerns Gabriel's draft stock. He was tabbed as the No. 49 prospect on PFF's big board, but it's unlikely he'll go that high in the draft.

A safe estimation for Gabriel is a mid- to late-round pick, anywhere from the third to the seventh round, but he's unlikely to go undrafted. While Gabriel may not find himself off the board on the first two days of the draft, he will certainly find a home in the NFL with his immense experience as a collegiate starter and a solid overall skillset.

Who will draft Dillon Gabriel?

Dillon Gabriel is likely to go to a team with a veteran quarterback in place. That's likely to be somewhere that will give him plenty of time to develop and learn behind an established star while giving teams a comfortable safety blanket if their starter were to go down with an injury.

One team that fits that criteria is the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa has established himself as Miami's franchise quarterback but has shown to be injury-prone. Dillon Gabriel could provide an immediate upgrade over its backup, Skylar Thompson, while giving the team a similarity in play style, largely due to his left-handedness, something he shares with Tagovailoa.

As a lefty with a similar skillset to Tagovailoa, Gabriel could be a steal for a Miami team looking to bolster its quarterback depth this offseason. The Dolphins have a fourth-round pick and two fifth-round picks at their disposal to address their backup quarterback spot this offseason.