The Cleveland Browns have made a move to acquire veteran quarterback Kenny Pickett, though they might not be finished adding passers before the NFL Draft in April.
The Browns traded a 2025 fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to bring in Pickett, a former first-round selection. At just 26 years old, Pickett has played for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, showing some promise.
While Pickett is a reliable option, he may not be the only one. According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the team could continue exploring other alternatives.
“Pickett was brought in by the Browns to compete, and they’re likely still looking for another veteran ‘bridge’ quarterback who could start until their rookie is ready,” Cabot said. “They’re also still heavily considering selecting a rookie quarterback with their No. 2 overall pick, like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. They also like other prospects in the draft and could draft one later, or even possibly two.”
Carson Wentz Could Be a Target for the Browns The Browns have a recent trend of adding quarterbacks, though it hasn’t paid off well for them. Last year, Cleveland entered training camp with Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Thompson-Robinson, and Tyler Huntley on the roster, eventually releasing Huntley before the regular season. Winston, DTR, and Watson all started games last season, with Huntley starting for the Dolphins.
The previous year, Cleveland traded Joshua Dobbs away before the season began, relying on Watson and Thompson-Robinson as their primary passers.
With free agency moving along, one veteran quarterback that the Browns have shown interest in is Carson Wentz. Wentz was a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, starting one game at the end of the year after the Chiefs secured the top seed. His last full season as a starter came in 2021 with the Indianapolis Colts, where he played all 17 games, finishing with 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Deshaun Watson Likely Finished with the Browns The Browns are leaving no option unexplored in their pursuit of a solution at quarterback, particularly given the aftermath of the disastrous Watson trade. Cleveland gave up three first-round picks and committed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract to Watson — a decision that continues to haunt the franchise.
Watson tore his Achilles in October and then re-injured it in January, requiring additional surgery. The Browns expect him to miss most of next season, and even when healthy, he likely won’t play a major role in the quarterback situation.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that all indications suggest Watson’s time in Cleveland is over, despite having two years left on his contract. The Browns are likely to keep Watson on the roster to avoid the large cap penalties that would come with releasing him.
By the time Watson hits free agency, he will be 31 years old and six years remove