Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
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Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
Former Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett has found a new home after a turbulent year.
Pickett agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract includes $4 million in guaranteed money, with incentives that could push the total value to $7.5 million. Pickett will likely back up Bryce Young in Carolina, giving the Panthers a more credentialed option behind their franchise quarterback after Andy Dalton hit free agency.
The Browns acquired Pickett ahead of last season, bringing the former first-round pick to Cleveland as a legitimate candidate to start under Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland sent QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick to the Eagles in exchange for Pickett. He entered training camp in a four-man competition that included Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
A serious hamstring injury ended his shot before it could play out. Cleveland shipped him to the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the season in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Kenny Pickett’s Time in Las Vegas
Pickett spent 2025 backing up Geno Smith in Las Vegas and saw limited action. He made two starts, completing 28 of 45 passes for 188 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
His best moment came in Week 14 when Smith exited with a shoulder injury against the Denver Broncos. Pickett stepped in and completed 8 of 11 passes for 96 yards and a score, giving the Raiders a glimpse of what he could do.
He drew the start the following week against the Eagles — his former team — but struggled in a 31-0 loss. Pickett completed 15 of 25 passes for 64 yards with an interception and four sacks. Smith reclaimed the job when healthy, and Pickett finished the year on the bench.
Now on his fifth NFL team, Pickett holds a 16-11 career record as a starter and has thrown for 4,953 yards, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 36 career appearances.
Browns Still Looking for an Answer at QB
Meanwhile, the quarterback situation in Cleveland remains unsettled — again. The Browns are heading into next season with the same kind of open competition Pickett found himself in a year ago.
Shedeur Sanders, who took over as the starter during his rookie season and went 3–4 down the stretch, enters the offseason as the likely frontrunner — though the Browns have yet to offer much clarity on the situation. General manager Andrew Berry confirmed at the NFL Combine that Deshaun Watson will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job, while Dillon Gabriel also remains on the roster as well.
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be an open competition,” new head coach Todd Monken said at the combine. “I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years, one way or the other, to say, ‘Boy, we have a starter at quarterback’ yet.”
The Browns have not landed a quarterback in free agency. Cleveland reportedly had Malik Willis on their radar, but he quickly signed a deal with the Miami Dolphins once free agency opened up.
Cleveland holds two first-round picks — No. 6 and 24 overall — and could potentially target a quarterback with those selections or in the later rounds.