Kenny Pickett's NFL journey has taken another unexpected turn.
After serving as Jalen Hurts' backup during the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl LIX run, the 26-year-old quarterback now finds himself in what might be the league's most crowded and uncertain quarterback competition.
Really, can we just call it what it is?
The Cleveland Browns have created what might be the zaniest QB room in NFL history.
Immediately? They have declined to pick up Pickett's fifth-year option worth a projected $22.1 million. This decision effectively makes Pickett an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season, placing him in a precarious position with no long-term security.
Pickett, who was acquired by Cleveland in a March trade with the Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick, is now on his third team in four years. The former 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft will earn a relatively paltry $2.6 million this season, but his future beyond that remains uncertain.
Just a few months ago, Pickett was celebrating a Super Bowl appearance as the backup to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.
Now, he enters ... drama.
He's battling against ...
1. - The 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco.
2 - The third-round pick Dillon Gabriel from Oregon.
3 - The fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders from Colorado who, after his infamous draft skid, we remind you, is liked less by the Browns than Gabriel.
4 - Injured starter Deshaun Watson, who has a $230 million guaranteed deal but is expected to miss significant time with an Achilles injury.
Pickett is currently considered the betting favorite to win the starting job in some circles, but nothing is guaranteed in this truly unprecedented situation.
During his two seasons in Pittsburgh, Pickett compiled a 14-10 record as a starter but threw just 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. His time with the Eagles was limited but showed flashes of potential. In his five appearances with Philadelphia last season, including one start, Pickett completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His lone start came in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, a game the Eagles won convincingly.
It can be argued that Pickett hasn't historically responded well to quarterback competition.
Reports indicate he requested a trade from Pittsburgh after the Steelers signed Russell Wilson last offseason, partly due to not being guaranteed starter reps in camp. Now in Cleveland, he faces not just one competitor, but three - including two rookies selected by the current regime.
The Browns’ decision to decline Pickett’s option makes it clear they view him as a short-term solution at best. With Watson’s injury concerns, Flacco’s age, and two young quarterbacks in the pipeline, Pickett could still win the starting job, but his long-term future with the team appears limited.
It's a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL. Just months after backing up Hurts in a championship season, Pickett finds himself fighting for relevance in what will likely be the most scrutinized quarterback battle of the 2025 preseason.
To extend his NFL career beyond 2025, he'll need to prove he can lead - not just survive - in one of the league's most volatile (and most zany) quarterback rooms.
