Dillon Gabriel 2025 NFL Draft: Oregon QB Scouting Report

In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, one quarterback to keep an eye on is Dillon Gabriel. He’s an experienced quarterback out of Oregon with potential in the NFL. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.

Dillon Gabriel 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Gabriel enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of college football’s most experienced and productive quarterbacks. With a career spanning three programs—UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon—Gabriel has showcased adaptability, poise, and a knack for winning across diverse offensive systems.

In Gabriel’s lone season with Oregon in 2024, he led the Ducks to a 13-0 regular season, a Big Ten Championship, and a College Football Playoff birth. More importantly, he cemented his reputation as a reliable game manager with playmaking upside. At 24 years old (turning 25 in December 2025), Gabriel’s extensive resume offers a polished skill set and raises questions about his ceiling at the next level.

Furthermore, Gabriel profiles as a high-end backup or low-end starter in the NFL. He might be best suited for a West Coast-style offense that emphasizes quick reads, play-action, and bootlegs. Additionally, his ceiling resembles a Brock Purdy or Case Keenum—undersized but cerebral quarterbacks who succeed through preparation and execution rather than raw athleticism. However, his age and lack of elite physical tools likely cap him as a Day 3 pick (Rounds 4-5). Teams needing a reliable bridge QB or a developmental backup with immediate readiness will value his polish.

HT: 5111
WT: 205
HAND: 900
ARM: 3078
40: 4.74

Strengths

• Experience and Football IQ: Gabriel’s 64 career starts (an FBS record) have honed his pre-snap recognition and post-snap decision-making. He reads defenses with veteran savvy, quickly identifying mismatches and exploiting soft spots in zone coverage. His time in Oregon’s pro-style offense highlighted his ability to manage complex playbooks and audibles effectively.
• Accuracy and Timing: Gabriel is a rhythm passer who excels in the short-to-intermediate range (5-15 yards), delivering catchable balls with touch and precision. His 72.9% completion rate in 2024 reflects his ability to place throws where receivers can maximize yards after catch (YAC).
• Pocket Presence: Despite his smaller stature, Gabriel displays composure under pressure, stepping up to evade edge rushers while keeping his eyes downfield. He rarely panics in clean pockets, a testament to his 6 years of seasoning.
• Mobility: Not an elite runner, but functional enough to extend plays and pick up first downs (373 rushing yards and 12 TDs at Oklahoma in 2023; 149 yards and 7 TDs at Oregon in 2024). His agility shines on designed rollouts and scrambles, adding a dual-threat dimension.
• Ball Security: With only 32 interceptions across 18,722 passing yards, Gabriel protects the football well, opting for check-downs over risky throws when primary reads are covered.

Areas for Improvement

• Physical Limitations: At his size, Gabriel lacks the prototypical NFL size. His height can hinder his ability to see over the middle against taller defensive lines, and he may struggle with batted passes at the line of scrimmage.
• Arm Strength: Gabriel’s arm is adequate but not exceptional. He struggles to drive the ball with velocity into tight windows beyond 20 yards, limiting his fit in vertical passing schemes. Deep balls often lack zip, allowing defenders time to recover.
• Age and Upside: Turning 25 as a rookie, Gabriel is older than most prospects, raising concerns about his developmental ceiling. Teams may view him as a finished product rather than a moldable talent with significant growth potential.
• Processing Speed Under Pressure: While effective in clean pockets, Gabriel can hesitate when blitzed heavily, occasionally holding the ball too long or missing open underneath routes. His escapability helps, but he’s not a consistent playmaker outside of structure.
• Scheme Dependency: Gabriel thrives in timing-based, quick-release systems (e.g., Oregon’s spread-option attack). His lack of elite traits may expose him in offenses requiring improvisation or heavy reliance on arm talent.

Conclusion

Overall, Gabriel’s college production and intangibles make him a safe bet to stick in the NFL. However, his physical profile and limited upside temper expectations. He’s a quarterback you win with, not because of. Additionally, his success will hinge on landing with a creative play-caller who can maximize his strengths.

Ultimately, a few of the best fits for Gabriel would be a team like the San Francisco 49ers, to be a potential insurance policy behind Brock Purdy in Kyle Shanahan’s QB-friendly system. Another team would be the Miami Dolphins to back up Tua Tagovailoa, mirroring his left-handed, timing-based passer style. Even a team like the Seattle Seahawks, where he fits Shane Waldron’s scheme, providing depth behind Sam Darnold. Look for Gabriel to go in the late rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Round Grade: 5th Round

Stats: Per Sports Reference

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