Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett says he wants to be the team’s starter.
“That’s the plan, man (to start). I’m not going there to hang out,” he said at the University of Pittsburgh’s Blue-Gold Spring football game. “I want to go play. I’m excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time.”
“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.”
Pickett was drafted out of Pitt by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He initially served as the backup to Mitchell Trubisky but was named the starter after Trubisky was benched. He went 7-5 in 12 games as a starter, throwing for 2,404 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions, adding 237 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He retained the starting job in 2023, making 12 starts and again going 7-5; he threw for 2,070 yards and six touchdowns with four picks, and rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown. Pickett suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 13 and was out for the rest of the season.
When the Steelers signed Russell Wilson to be their quarterback, Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickett competed with Tanner McKee to be the backup quarterback behind Jalen Hurts. When Hurts suffered a concussion in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders, Pickett took his place. He threw for 143 yards, a touchdown and a pick in the 36-33 loss; he suffered a rib injury during the game but played through it. Pickett started the Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys but suffered another rib injury and was replaced by McKee. He appeared on the final play of the NFC Championship Game, taking a knee to send the Eagles to Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in the Super Bowl.
After the season, Pickett was traded to the Browns for a draft pick and Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Pickett will have to compete for the starting job with veteran Joe Flacco. The 40 year-old Flacco was drafted by the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens and started there for 11 seasons, winning Super Bowl XLVII. Flacco bounced around the league for several years after being traded away from the Ravens. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad in 2023 after Watson was injured. He had a resurgence with the Browns, going 4-1 in five games as a starter and helping Cleveland make the playoffs for the first time in three years. He threw for 1,616 yards and 13 TDs with eight interceptions. Against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, Flacco threw for 307 yards and a touchdown but had two pick-sixes that proved insurmountable in a 45-14 loss. He started six games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024, throwing for 1,761 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things about Joe,” Pickett said of Flacco. “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.”
Watson’s sexual assault allegations, injuries, and poor play have led to a revolving door at quarterback since his signing. Jacoby Brissett started most of the 2022 season, and Watson did not return until Week 13. In 2023, Thompson-Robinson filled in for Watson in Week 4. He was replaced by P.J. Walker in Week 6. Watson came back in Week 9 but was injured again the next game, making Thompson-Robinson the starter again. Flacco became the starter in Week 13. In 2024, Watson tore his Achilles in Week 7. He was replaced for the remainder of the season by Jameis Winston.
Watson aggravated the Achilles injury in January and had surgery to repair it, potentially costing him his entire 2025 season. Besides Pickett and Flacco, the Browns have been speculated as a potential landing spot for a quarterback in this year’s draft.
