Cleveland Browns’ quarterback trade came only after Andrew Berry tried to trick the entire NFL on national television
"Honestly, it’s not much of a decision for us,” Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry said during the live broadcast of the preseason finale against the Rams regarding the decsion to carry four quarterbacks. “All four guys have done what we’ve asked, and we like everyone in that room. We don’t really see it as a problem — more as an opportunity.”
Well, that oppurtunity only lasted so long, as now the quarterback who was once in the driver seat to be the starter, finds himself in a whole different car.
Browns Trade Kenny Pickett to Las Vegas Raiders
"The Browns’ first move of the offseason was trading Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a draft pick to the Eagles for Kenny Pickett. It felt like a move to establish the floor of their quarterback room for the 2025 season. In the months that followed, they added veteran Joe Flacco and drafted rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson also remains on the roster, though he may not suit up in 2025 as he recovers from an Achilles injury. . .
" . . .Pickett’s hamstring injury cost him the chance to compete for the starting job—or even for a backup role. He was heavily limited in training camp and never appeared in a preseason game. The Browns held onto him until the right opportunity to move him arose. After sending a fifth-round pick with DTR to Philadelphia earlier, Cleveland essentially recouped that value here. The team now feels confident with Flacco as the veteran presence until it’s time to evaluate the two rookies."
Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Cleveland
Kenny Pickett was drafted a little over three years ago. He's now on his fourth team. After things went south in Pittsburgh, he won a Super Bowl as the backup Quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles before being traded to Cleveland this offseason.
If he doesn't get injured, much like his time in Pittsburgh, perhaps he stays the starter. Instead, Pickett will now replace injured Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell, who has a broken wrist that will sideline him for up to half the season, potentially.
The Raiders had been in the market since Sunday, and there was a chance they traded for a different Pittsburgh Steelers former backup, but they decided to roll with Pickett instead.
A player who got the short end of the stick for how things ended in Pittsburgh , Pickett may not be a consistent starter in this league, but he's a lot better than he gets credit for. Remember, he played under Matt Canada the only time he started multiple games in this league, and it was quite literally a historically bad offense.
So for now, the journeyman label is warranted, but you never know if and when a Sam Darnold or Geno Smith-like resurgence is on the way.
