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Raiders Acquire Kenny Pickett From Browns

August 25th, 2025 at 11:10pm CST by Ben Levine

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.

Browns Expected To Release DeAndre Carter

August 25th, 2025 at 8:24pm CST by Ben Levine

The Browns are moving on from an offseason free agent acquisition. According to Jordan Schultz, Cleveland is expected to release veteran DeAndre Carter.

Back in March, the Browns handed the 32-year-old a one-year, $800K deal. Carter was expected to have a role in Cleveland as a back-of-the-depth-chart wideout and primary returner. Instead, the NFL journeyman will be looking to join yet another team.

The Browns represented the 10th team of Carter’s NFL career (not including multiple stints with the Raiders and Bears). The Sacramento State product’s best offensive season actually came relatively recently, when he hauled in 46 catches for 538 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers. After getting into 17 games for the Raiders in 2023, Carter spent the 2024 campaign in Chicago. There, he hauled in nine catches in 13 games.

Carter has really made a name for himself on special teams, where he’s tallied 133 career kick returns and 149 career punt returns. He finished this past season with a career-high 31.9 yards-per-return mark, and he also managed to return the longest punt return (38 yards) since his sophomore season. Considering his special teams prowess, it shouldn’t take long for the veteran to find another gig.

For Cleveland, this could be a sign that UDFA Gage Larvadain has made the team, per Tony Grossi. The receiver finished the preseason with nine catches for 94 yards and one touchdown, and he also returned 10 punts.

Andrew Berry Confirms Browns Will Keep Four QBs

August 24th, 2025 at 10:51pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Browns general manager Andrew Berry confirmed that all four of the team’s quarterbacks – veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders – would make the 53-man roster, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.

Berry said earlier this summer that the team would consider keeping four quarterbacks and now seems poised to follow through. On Saturday, he called it “not much of a decision.”

“We have a room that we like all the guys in there,” said Berry. “We don’t really see that as a problem. We more see it as an opportunity.”

Cleveland’s quarterback situation has been the subject of intense scrutiny, perhaps more than any other in the league. The two veterans were long seen as the likeliest starters, with Flacco winning the job as Pickett dealt with a hamstring injury throughout training camp. Pickett is still expected to be ready to backup Flacco in Week 1, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. Gabriel and Sanders will provide depth, likely in that order, though at least one will be inactive on gamedays.

The focus on The Browns’ 2025 quarterback room comes in spite of signals that the team is planning to prioritize the position in next year’s draft. One such indicator was the acquisition of an extra 2026 first-round pick via the Travis Hunter trade with the Jaguars. Neither Flacco nor Pickett are long-term propositions under center, and the two rookies may not get a chance to establish themselves as future starters this year.

Deshaun Watson is unlikely to regain a starting role in Cleveland, but he’ll still cover more than a quarter of the team’s cap in 2026, per OverTheCap. That could keep the Browns from chasing a veteran in free agency and force them to bet on one of their second-year passers or draft one of the top college quarterback prospects next spring.

Browns Make 19 Roster Cuts

August 24th, 2025 at 5:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The first of the Browns’ 53-man roster moves came to light this afternoon with the release of veterans Tyler Huntley and Tony Brown. Cleveland then made the following 19 cuts, per a team announcement:

Released:

Waived:

Barton started two games at right tackle for the Cardinals in 2024, but he couldn’t win a backup job in Cleveland this summer. Needham, who appeared in 63 games for the Dolphins over the last six years, similarly had a shot at a nickel role in the Browns defense, but the team opted to keep their younger cornerbacks instead. The two veterans are free to sign with any team, while the other 17 cuts will be subject to waivers.

Among them are Henry and Rush, two 2023 fifth-rounders who made their way to Cleveland this offseason after failing to catch on with their original clubs. Henry started three games for the Commanders as a rookie, but was waived under Washington’s new regime last August. He spent time with the Bengals and the Cowboys before landing with the Eagles in November and finishing the season as a Super Bowl champion. Rush was a fringe third-round pick in 2023 but fell to the Colts on Day 3. He didn’t make the 53-man roster as a rookie and bounced between Kansas City and Pittsburgh across his first two seasons with five regular-season appearances for the Steelers.

Browns Release QB Tyler Huntley, CB Tony Brown

August 24th, 2025 at 2:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Among the Browns’ first moves toward a 53-man roster is the expected departure of Tyler Huntley. The veteran quarterback is being released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

In addition, Schefter notes veteran corner Tony Brown is being let go. Neither move (both of which are now official) comes as a surprise, of course. Huntley in particular has long been seen as a prime candidate to be released given Cleveland’s commitment to carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster.

Joe Flacco will handle starting duties to begin the 2025 campaign, while veteran Kenny Pickett is set to remain in the fold. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are not in danger of being cut or traded, meaning Huntley’s departure represents an expected outcome. The 27-year-old has been with Cleveland for two stints, but he has yet to make a regular season appearance for the team.

Huntley will now hit the open market in search of a backup or third-string opportunity elsewhere. He has made 14 starts in his career, including five last season as an injury replacement for the Dolphins. A return to Miami should not be expected in 2025, but other gigs should be available in the near future.

Brown, 30, spent time with the Packers, Bengals and Colts before his debut Cleveland campaign. The former UDFA made six appearances for the Browns in 2024, playing exclusively on special teams along the way. After logging an 81% snap share in that capacity, his absence could be felt this season. Barring a spot on Cleveland’s practice squad, Brown will join Huntley in seeking out a new team in time for Week 1.

No guaranteed money was included in either players’ pact. As a result, Cleveland will create roughly $2MM in cap savings with these moves without any dead money charges being generated.

2025 Offseason In Review Series

August 23rd, 2025 at 10:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are PFR’s breakdowns of each NFL team’s 2025 offseason. The list will be updated between now and Week 1.

AFC East

AFC North

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

NFL Roster Updates: Doubs, Lazard, Smith, Ward, Bush

August 22nd, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur emphatically shut down rumors that wide receiver Romeo Doubs wouldn’t make the team’s 53-man roster.

“I’d be very shocked if he was going anywhere,” LaFleur told Kay Adams during an Up & Adams appearance on Thursday.

When asked again if Doubs would be cut, LaFleur responded, “No. That will not happen.” 

The uncertainty surrounding the fourth-year wideout stems from the Packers’ depth at the position after adding Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in April’s draft. However, LaFleur noted that the team was “missing a lot of guys,” namely returning starters Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Watson, coming off an ACL tear in January, is expected to begin the year on the PUP list, while a sprained foot may sideline Reed for the beginning of the regular season. Williams (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) also missed practice on Tuesday, per ESPN.

As a result, Doubs’ roster spot is safe. Judging by LaFleur’s comments, he would’ve made the team even with a healthy receiver room.

“‘Rome’ is out there competing and doing everything that we need to see from him,” said LaFleur. “And obviously he’s played a lot of ball for us, and at a high level. He’s been a great teammate, he goes out there and you can count on him every day.”

Here are a few other updates on key roster situations around the league:

Saints, Browns, Chiefs Seeking RB Trade

August 21st, 2025 at 11:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

As Wednesday illustrated (on several occasions), this time on the NFL calendar often breeds trades. The countdown to final roster cuts continues, and further swaps could be coming soon as a result.

Running back could be a position to watch on the trade front. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the Saints, Browns and Chiefs have each been making calls about an addition at that spot. This comes at a time when Commanders back Brian Robinson is known to be available.

No specific suitors have been tied to Robinson yet, but any number of teams could show interest in the pending 2026 free agent. If any of New Orleans, Cleveland or Kansas City were to do so, a swap would become something to watch for in advance of Week 1. The three teams have varying needs regarding a backfield addition.

The Saints will once again have Alvin Kamara leading the way in 2025. A new deal signed last summer has the five-time Pro Bowler on the books for another two years, and $3MM of his base salary for next season is already guaranteed. Any new arrival would be viewed as a backup option amongst the likes of Kendre Miller and free agent additions Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

The Browns elected not to retain Nick Chubb this offseason, and he eventually joined the Texans on the open market. Cleveland’s backfield will once again involved Jerome Ford on a regular basis, and second-round rookie Quinshon Judkins is expected to be available during the regular season. Domestic violence charges were recently dropped against the Ohio State product, presumably paving the way for him to sign his rookie deal (although a league investigation is ongoing). Cleveland also has returnee Pierre Strong along with fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson in the backfield.

The Chiefs still have Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt atop their RB depth chart entering 2025. Pacheco was limited to seven regular season contests last year, and when on the field he averaged by far the lowest yards per carry average (3.7) of his three-year career. One season remains on Pacheco’s rookie contract, and Hunt is also a pending free agent. Kansas City added Elijah Mitchell in free agency on a one-year deal, so any trade could be aimed at adding a more permanent backfield presence. It is uncommon, however, for players with multiple years left on their contracts to be dealt at this time.

Each of New Orleans (roughly $20.5MM in cap space), Cleveland ($19MM) and Kansas City ($17MM) could easily afford a rental addition in the backfield. Over the coming days, it will be interesting to see if one of more of those teams executes a trade acquisition.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/25

August 21st, 2025 at 9:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: CB Bruce Harmon

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Out for most of the Panthers’ preseason workouts due to offseason back surgery, Tremble can begin ramping up in earnest for Week 1. A debut on time will be the goal, Dave Canales said Thursday. Tremble re-signed with Carolina on a two-year, $10.5MM deal this offseason.

Brown joined the 49ers after starting 10 Seahawks games from 2023-24. The team had aimed for the former fourth-round pick to play a backup role this season, but he instead has become the corresponding move following the Skyy Moore trade. The team has ex-Colts starter Dallis Flowers and preseason standout Chase Lucas as options, while veteran Fabian Moreau is in the mix as well.

Harris joins the Commanders after starting six Browns games from 2020-24. Harris had signed with the Seahawks last year, before being traded back to Cleveland ahead of Week 1. He ended up on the Browns’ IR list by October. Harris, 26, worked out for the Saints earlier this month. Watson suffered a biceps tear, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. The Browns drafted Watson in the 2024 sixth round; he played 14 games and made one start as a rookie.

Browns Trade DT Jowon Briggs To Jets

August 20th, 2025 at 2:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the roster-setting deadline less than a week away, a key NFL trade window is open. After two deals occurred Sunday, an intra-AFC swap is done. The Browns and Jets have a deal in place.

Cleveland is trading defensive tackle Jowon Briggs to New York, the Browns announced. It is a pick-swap deal, one that will send Briggs and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jets for a 2026 sixth-rounder.

[RELATED: NFL Trades Completed In 2025]

A 2024 seventh-round pick, Briggs played in six Browns games as a backup last season. The Ohio native made 13 tackles (one for loss) and recovered a fumble as a rookie, playing 133 defensive snaps and 33 special teams plays. This will give the Jets another backup option in their Quinnen Williams-led D-tackle corps.

Briggs played two seasons at Virginia and three at Cincinnati, combining to register 12 sacks during his five-year college run. He earned first-team All-AAC acclaim in 2022 and then was a Big 12 honorable mention honoree — after the Bearcats’ 2023 conference switch — in ’23. He started seven games as a true freshman at Virginia in 2019, making 14 total Cavaliers starts after arriving as a four-star recruit.

The Jets let 2024 starter Javon Kinlaw walk in free agency (to the Commanders) and did not allocate many resources to this position this offseason. The team has ex-Chiefs nose tackle Derrick Nnadi, former Washington second-rounder Phidarian Mathis (claimed during the period between Joe Douglas‘ firing and the Darren Mougey hire), and journeymen Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele as DT options. The team did not address this position in the draft.

These lower-level trades regularly emerge during the days just before teams’ set their initial 53-man rosters; the Browns made one involving a DT last year, sending Chris Williams to the Bears. The Browns cut Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason but made DT the centerpiece of their draft by using the No. 5 overall pick on Mason Graham. That move came after the Maliek Collins signing. Cleveland also has 2024 second-round pick Michael Hall rostered to go with veteran Shelby Harris.

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