The Browns aren't expected to pick up Pickett's fifth-year option, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. Cleveland traded for Pickett in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles in March, but the organization appears unwilling to commit to giving the former Steeler $22.1 million in guaranteed money by picking up his option. That decision may have been influenced in part by the Browns adding two quarterbacks -- Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders -- via the draft, and the team also re-signed veteran Joe Flacco in mid-April. All four are expected to compete for the Browns' starting QB role during training camp, though Deshaun Watson may have a chance of reclaiming that job when he eventually returns from a ruptured Achilles.
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The Browns aren't expected to pick up Pickett's fifth-year option, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. Cleveland traded for Pickett in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles in March, but the organization appears unwilling to commit to giving the former Steeler $22.1 million in guaranteed money by picking up his option. That decision may have been influenced in part by the Browns adding two quarterbacks -- Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders -- via the draft, and the team also re-signed veteran Joe Flacco in mid-April. All four are expected to compete for the Browns' starting QB role during training camp, though Deshaun Watson may have a chance of reclaiming that job when he eventually returns from a ruptured Achilles.
Pickett has been joined in Cleveland's quarterback room by rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, whom the Browns drafted in the third and fifth rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, respectively. Cleveland's quarterback depth chart now runs five players deep, including Deshaun Watson, who isn't expected to be available for the beginning of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. After trading for Pickett on March 10, the Browns signed the 40-year-old Joe Flacco on April 11, then drafted Gabriel out of Oregon and Sanders out of Colorado. Sanders was viewed as a likely first-round pick before surprisingly dropping in the draft, so he has more immediate upside than the typical fifth-round draft pick. Pickett may be able to thread the needle and win the starting job as a far younger option than Flacco but one with more experience than Sanders or Gabriel, but even in that scenario, Pickett would likely be on a short leash with no shortage of available alternatives under center.
The Browns have acquired Pickett from the Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. With Deshaun Watson still recovering from an Achilles injury that is expected to extend into the coming season and Jameis Winston a looming free agent, Pickett bolsters the Browns' QB room ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team figures to address the position further in the coming weeks/months, but as things stand, Pickett -- a 2022 first-rounder -- should have a chance to compete for the starting job in Cleveland after working behind Jalen Hurts last season.
Pickett completed 25 of 42 pass attempts (60 percent) for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions across five regular-season appearances with the Eagles in 2024. He also rushed nine times for 15 yards and one touchdown, and he fumbled once. Almost all of Pickett's offensive snaps came in two appearances, Week 16 and Week 17, when he filled in for a concussed Jalen Hurts before being forced off the field due to a ribs injury of his own. Pickett was cleared in time for the start of Philadelphia's playoff run, ultimately playing a backup role behind Hurts en route to the team's Super Bowl LIX victory. He has one year remaining on his deal with the Eagles and figures to reprise his role as Hurts' backup for the 2025 season.
Pickett (ribs) was a limited practice participant Friday but doesn't have a designation for Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers. Pickett operated with a cap on his reps this week due to the rib injury that he sustained Week 16 at Washington and then aggravated Week 17 versus the Cowboys. He yielded the start under center in the Eagles' regular-season finale against the Giants to Tanner McKee with Jalen Hurts in the concussion protocol, but the latter gained clearance from an independent neurologist Friday, ensuring the team's franchise QB will be back this weekend. As a result, Pickett will return to his typical backup role Sunday.
Pickett (ribs) practiced on a limited basis Thursday. Pickett maintained his activity level from Wednesday due to the rib injury that has plagued him since a Week 16 loss in Washington. Meanwhile, No. 1 QB Jalen Hurts practiced fully Thursday, but there's been no word regarding whether he's cleared the concussion protocol. As a result, the situation under center remains unsettled for the Eagles ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers.
Pickett (ribs) was a limited practice participant Wednesday. The same goes for Jalen Hurts, who remains in concussion protocol but was the first QB to go through drills during Wednesday's practice. Pickett likely will be healthy enough to play this Sunday against Green Bay, but the Eagles hope he'll only be needed for a backup role and not as a replacement for Hurts.
Pickett (ribs) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants, but he'll fill a backup role behind Tanner McKee, who will serve as the Eagles' starting quarterback in Week 18, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Pickett didn't practice in any fashion this week after exiting in the second half of his start in the Week 17 win over the Cowboys with the rib injury, so he could end up serving as the Eagles' No. 3 quarterback behind both McKee and Ian Book. Jalen Hurts is inactive for the regular-season finale, but if he can clear concussion protocol during the upcoming week, he should be ready to move back into the starting role in the Eagles' wild-card game. Pickett will likely leapfrog McKee and Book and settle back in as Hurts' top backup if Pickett can move past his own rib injury.
Pickett (ribs) remains listed as questionable but isn't expected to play in Sunday's game against the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Though neither Pickett nor No. 1 quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion/finger) practiced this week, Pickett took a designation into the weekend, whereas the Eagles have already ruled Hurts out. The Eagles are still likely to make Pickett inactive this week, though he'll presumably be the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback rather than Hurts. Third-string quarterback Tanner McKee took all the first-team reps in practice this week and will draw his first career start Sunday, while Ian Book should serve as McKee's top backup. Assuming both he and Hurts move past their respective injuries in time for the wild-card round, Pickett will likely settle back into his normal No. 2 role.