Kenny Pickett DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett lined up with the first-team offense during Wednesday's walkthrough practice, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. The former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers spent last season as Jalen Hurts' backup in Philadelphia but figures to be the favorite to win the QB1 job in Cleveland. Joe Flacco was next in line for reps as expected. While the Browns' quarterback room appears crowded heading into 2025, Pickett is likely the best bet to begin the season as the starter. Third-round and fifth-round rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders could be competing for the QB3 role behind Flacco. Ultimately, we could see two or three quarterbacks make a start for the Browns next season, but none are likely notable fantasy football options in single-QB leagues.

According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco could be traded this summer, depending on how things go with the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition during the offseason. Cleveland notably selected Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel in Round 3 and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft. While Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is not likely to be a factor in 2025, the additions of the rookies create a crowded position room. Jackson noted that Pickett's has $2.63 million that his "essentially" guaranteed by Cleveland, which could suggest Flacco is more likely to be dealt. The Browns are likely looking at picking a first-round quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, so seeing what Gabriel and Sanders can do is a top priority rather than winning a few more games with one of the established veterans.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Cleveland Browns will not pick up quarterback Kenny Pickett's fifth-year option. It isn't a surprise, considering Pickett hasn't exactly shown out when given the chance. The 26-year-old is on his fourth team in four seasons after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him No. 20 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett played second fiddle to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts last season, appearing in five games, though he only attempted a pass in three of them. In two seasons with the Steelers, the Pittsburgh product put together an underwhelming 4,474-yard line on a 63% completion percentage with a 13:13 TD:INT ratio in 25 games (24 starts). He may get a shot at some in-game action this season, but it's difficult to tell when (or if) that may be due to the presence of veteran Joe Flacco and recently acquired draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.