Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders leaves the field after Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

BEREA, Ohio — Dillon Gabriel’s family clapped, hugged, kissed and cried when the Browns picked him 94th overall in last month’s NFL Draft. From the Gabriel living room, where Hawaiian leis adorned every neck, a kid from the islands fulfilled his life’s work.

Back in Green Bay, however, the live draft crowd offered mixed reviews of Cleveland’s selection. “Ahhh,” “Ooooo,” “Woooooah.” The fans, along with NFL Network draft host Rich Eisen, expected to hear a different quarterback’s name.

“Oh boy,” Eisen said then. “So Dillon Gabriel is going to Cleveland. We just saw two more quarterbacks taken here in the third round not named Shedeur Sanders.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

Gabriel — or as he’s colloquially known, Not Sanders — took his first professional reps this weekend at Browns rookie minicamp. And from meetings to practice drills to interviews, he seemed to enjoy every part.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger celebrates with Cleveland Browns linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold after intercepting a pass during 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

See, he and the Browns harbored mutual admiration throughout the draft process. Cleveland liked Gabriel enough to pick him higher than most projections. Gabriel craved a franchise that trusted his talents. This match was made in Berea, which, to the thankful third-round pick, might as well be a divine domain.

“... It‘s a dream come true, but it’s also the beginning of your dream,” Gabriel said Saturday. “So (I’m) excited for the work to come and this is where I wanted to be, but the dreams and goals don’t stop there.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders talks to Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. during 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

Neither do the wake-up calls, though. And by trading up for Sanders after picking Gabriel, the Browns might have short-circuited Gabriel’s phone speaker.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders watches from the sidelines between snaps during 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

His dream exists in Sanders’ world now, complete with an army of “Legendary” fans who don’t want to see Gabriel, Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco steal a single snap from the Colorado star. Draftniks who graded Sanders higher in most categories already expect Gabriel to land lower on the depth chart. And talking heads would rather analyze the star-powered Sanders instead of a solid, six-year college starter.

Winning a position battle is hard enough. But winning it while competing in a popularity contest against a player with 2.4 million Instagram followers?

“I think the more questions I get asked like that, it just divides the team,” Gabriel said of increased, Sanders-related scrutiny. “We’re in a room full of not just us, but Kenny, Joe and Deshaun. And for us, we know how important a healthy QB room is, but also a team that you want to be a part of.”

Divide? I’m empathizing with Gabriel. The Browns chose him to compete for his dream job, then drafted a younger, more famous player at the same position hours later. I feel bad for the Oregon rookie because his bosses built an adverse environment around him.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders walks the sidelines between snaps during 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

Just listen to both players describe their worlds over the weekend, then consider how they well they mesh.

“For me, a life of simplicity is a life full of focus,” Gabriel said. “A life of complexity comes with a life of distractions, but for me, I’m focused. I’m simple. I know what I want to accomplish.”

About 10 minutes later, Sanders walked to the mic.

“... I don’t do anything for PR,” he said. “I don’t do anything, because anywhere I go, cameras will come.”

They’re already here.

During Saturday’s rookie practice, reporters recorded Gabriel throwing an interception and Sanders throwing two touchdowns. They recorded plenty of other throws from both players, too. Some good (like Gabriel’s bullet on a dig route), some bad (Sanders one-hopped a flat route at one point). But on the internet, Sanders’ stans shared his highlights. Gabriel’s interception outshined his completions. Premature narratives formed.

“This is what’s tough about right now, right?” Gabriel said before practice. “In this day and age, a clip is a clip. ... But we decide to clip certain things that maybe could get more views than other clips within that video. I just challenge everyone to watch the full video and not just watch one clip.”

He was talking about an old interview during which Gabriel stated his preference to play in warm environments (i.e. not the lakefront in December). But his statement applies to the next several months, too. From now until August, the Sanders microscope is pointed squarely toward Berea. It will dissect grainy practice reps, overinterpret partial quotes and drum up mundane talking points.

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz watches 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

Who won the day? What’d they say about each other? Why did Gabriel throw first?

“I wouldn’t look into anything (at rookie minicamp),” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday about the order of quarterback reps.

Good luck with that one, coach. And good luck to Gabriel in the NFL’s glossiest competition between mid-round picks. He’ll need it.

To be clear, this is no slight against Sanders or endorsement of Gabriel. I prefer Sanders as a prospect but remain open to being wrong. I enjoyed both quarterbacks’ personalities from their brief interview sessions this weekend. And both Gabriel and Sanders described positive first impressions of the other.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger runs after intercepting a pass during 11-on-11 drills at Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

BETTING: Shedeur Sanders is listed at +2800 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year on BetMGM. Our comprehensive list of Ohio sportsbook bonuses will help you decide which sportsbook to use.

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson leaves the field after Browns rookie minicamp in Berea.

By drafting both, however, the Browns have pitted Gabriel against the public. The franchise thinks he’s underrated. And his family will keep clapping for him. Maybe Oregon, Oklahoma and UCF fans will, too.

But the rest of the football world is Team Sanders. They never grasped the Gabriel pick in the first place. And while Cleveland started as his team come true, now he’s competing with a worthy draft classmate, plus Sanders’ accompanying star persona.