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.

On Saturday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the plan is for him to be the team's starting quarterback in 2025. "I'm not going there to hang out. I want to go play. I'm excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time." Pickett looked to be on his way to the starting gig with the news that teammate Deshaun Watson (Achilles) could miss all of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon again. Now, he'll incur some competition courtesy of veteran Joe Flacco. The 26-year-old struggled during his two-year stint as a Steeler but gained valuable experience with the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run in 2024. Pickett will be awarded the starting job if he can beat out the aging veteran. Still, it isn't a foregone conclusion that the Browns won't continue to add arms with uncertainty surrounding Watson's status. The Cleveland QB situation will be one to monitor.

When asked about the team's current quarterback situation, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, "I feel good. Obviously it's March 31, so there's still a draft to be had. It's not August 1. I will say this: Kenny Pickett's a guy that I believe in, that we believe in. So we'll see how it all shakes out." A lot can still happen between now and this month's NFL draft, including a potential trade for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, but we find it hard to believe that Cleveland would be happy going into Week 1 of the 2025 season this fall with Pickett as their starter. The team is saying they won't trade up to No. 1 overall to select Miami QB Cam Ward in the draft, but it would be a surprise if they don't take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 overall or another signal-caller later in the first round if they trade back. At the very least, though, Pickett, a former first-rounder, should have a chance to compete for the starting gig this summer.