The Raiders have landed on a new backup for Geno Smith. The team is acquiring Kenny Pickett from the Browns, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Cleveland will be receiving a 2026 fifth-round pick in return, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
This is a natural move for both organizations. The Raiders have been hunting for a new backup quarterback since Aidan O’Connell suffered a fracture wrist that will sideline him for six to eight weeks. Meanwhile, the Browns were looking to clear up their QB logjam, despite what GM Andrew Berry may have signaled yesterday.
The Raiders’ only other option behind Smith was rookie sixth-round pick Cam Miller, so it seemed like only a matter of time before Las Vegas landed a veteran signal caller. In comes Pickett, who has pivoted to the backup phase of his career. A former first-round pick, the Pittsburgh product failed to live up to his draft billing with the Steelers. He went 14-10 in his 24 starts with the organization but only tossed 13 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions. When the Steelers revamped their QB depth chart last offseason, Pickett requested a trade and was promptly sent to Philly to be Jalen Hurts‘ backup.
Pickett ended up getting into five games for his new squad, completing 25 of his 42 pass attempts for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He earned a win in his lone start for the Eagles, a blowout Week 17 victory over the Cowboys. After the season, he was dealt to Cleveland for a fifth-round pick and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
The Browns depth chart quickly became crowded as they navigated another lost season from Deshaun Watson. While it was once believed that Pickett could be in the driver’s seat to be Cleveland’s new QB1, Joe Flacco ended up winning the QB battle. Still, the team had too much notable depth at the position as the roster deadline approached. With this trade, the Browns can now roll into the season with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as the primary backups.
If you’re keeping count at home, this represents the third trade of Pickett’s four-year career. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes, this accomplishment has only been matched by one other player in NFL history: Sam Howell, who reached the milestone yesterday.
Poor little mittens, he just can’t stop getting traded.
Clipboard Kenny on the move again.
I’m starting to think that the story about Pickett telling Omar Khan that he refused to compete with Russell Wilson is not only true, but maybe Kenny’s typical demeanor. The guy is getting passed around like a cheap blunt.
Lmao
I feel less and less bad as a Steeler fan that we blew it with Pickett, because one by one every team in the league is finding out that he’s not worth the hassle.
…while spending a whole lot less than a first round pick on him.
Hey! You… stop being so right! 😉
He was overdrafted by at least 2 rounds.
He was in the same tier as all the other worthless QBs in the 2022 draft but the Steelers picked him 2 rounds before everyone else for some reason.
Reason: they panicked.
Reason: he was “familiar with the Steelers locker room having played at Heinz field in college”. Even worse.
I dunno, bad offensive coach, diva receivers, up and down off line play, its not like Pickett got the best support in Pitts but if he couldnt take the job from Flacco in Cleveland, you wonder if his confidence is shot or something else?
I think the guy with limited physical tools who wasn’t particularly good in the ACC until his fifth season there just isn’t very good.
The Raiders could do worse for a backup at this stage in the offseason, but good business by Cleveland getting a fifth rounder for their fourth favorite quarterback on the team.
They really could do a lot better. Kenny Pickett is terrible. Huntley just signing without giving up draft picks would have been a better move.
Finally, a sensible move by the Browns.
Rats, I thought the Saints would get him.
Solid move for both.
Kenny may not be the physically gifted, but he has a little something. Fine backup.
And they needed to dump one. They essentially bought a fifth round pick.
Yeah… they’re getting back the 5th rounder they wasted on Sanders this year.
And just like that, Sanders is one 41 year old injury away from starting.
He’s got to beat out Gabriel as well.
I think Gabriel is first in line to take over when Flacco either is injured or fails to not suck.
I agree. I just hope that Flacco plays well. Got a soft spot in my heart for the Superbowl MVP man, and he proved the year before last if he has decent talent around him, he can still sling it. It will just be a matter of how much he gets killed behind that OL.
Terrible trade.
For whom?
Raiders. Pickett wasn’t worth a seventh round pick, let alone a fifth.
Raiders were desperate for a QB2. If they had known how bad O’Connell’s injury was a day earlier they maybe could have traded for Sam Howell.
LOL
I knew Andrew Berry was full of sh—t on a stick lmao
Wasn’t there just an article about how they wanted to carry 4 qbs? How times have changed
They never wanted 4. They were either going to ride with Pickett or Flacco depending on which one won the battle, and then either try to trade or cut the one that lost the battle, and keep the two rookies.
Played out exactly as expected. Flacco was going to be the starter, he has the most talent out of any of their passers. Pickett was going to get traded/cut, and the two rookies would be on the roster. As soon as the Browns start losing, Flacco will be benched and they will go into sink or swim mode with either Gabriel or Two Sheds.
Small Hands will be the answer to a lot of quirky sports trivia questions for decades to come.
I will always remember him for that fake slide TD run when he was playing in college at Pitt
Wake Forest fan, screw Kenny Pickett
True, but the Big Hands replacement couldnt get another year in HeinzTown either. Will Tomlin ever find his young QB that can get him back to a SB?
That was a waste of a fifth round pick.
I wonder if he is trying to get a jersey from every team.