Pickett Reveals Plan Opportunity With Browns

The Cleveland Browns have perhaps the most uninspiring quarterback room in the sport, and while the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft offers them the opportunity to change that, blue-chip prospects like receiver/corner Travis Hunter and edge rusher Abdul Carter make the choice to take a passer more difficult.

Subsequently, there’s a real chance the Browns don’t take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in Round 1, leaving themselves with Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and the remains of Deshaun Watson’s second Achilles tear.

That’s bad news for the Cleveland faithful biding time for the end of the rebuild, awfully good news for Pickett, who’s on the verge of re-emerging as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Speaking to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Jerry DiPaola, the Browns quarterback revealed his plans to compete for the top spot on Cleveland’s depth chart.

"That's the plan, man," Pickett said. "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."

In 2024, Pickett won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, getting the chance to take a knee from victory formation. He was a serviceable backup, winning his lone start across five appearances. In all, he threw for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in his limited action.

His main competition, Flacco, may be the favorite for the job. In 2023, he kept Cleveland’s offense potent enough to make the playoffs despite a sorry first half. Just a year removed from that incredible run, he’ll return with the trust of the coaching staff and the respect of his teammates, a potential leg up in a competition.

"I've heard nothing but great things about Joe," Pickett said. "I've been watching him since I was 10 years old. Total respect for Joe, what he's done and I'm excited to get to work with him, too."

Whether Flacco ends up merely mentoring Pickett or starting over him is yet to be seen, but without a bigger move coming down the chute, the two seem poised to battle it out in training camp for the right to lead the Browns into 2025.

If nothing else, Pickens looks to be taking the right approach to the third chapter of his NFL career.

"I'm really excited just to get there and get back to competing, get back to playing," he said. "Meeting new people, meeting my new teammates, building those relationships. New stop in the journey."