As Kenny Pickett enters his fourth NFL season with his third different team, the former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick is drawing on an unexpected source of confidence in his quest to become the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback: his time backing up Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts on the championship-winning Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaking to reporters during Browns organized team activities, Pickett made it clear that his 2024 season with the Eagles provided the foundation he needed to compete at the highest level. "There's more similarities to Philly's system," Pickett said when discussing his transition to Cleveland. "A lot of the concepts are the same and the teaching is the same. I'm extremely grateful for my time in Philly. I was shown how it's supposed to be done, really, from the top down."
While Pickett's comments have been interpreted by some as a subtle critique of his original team in Pittsburgh, the quarterback focused on the positive lessons he absorbed during his season with the Super Bowl champion Eagles. "You get a chance to see what it's supposed to look like and how it should look on a day-to-day basis, not just on Sundays," Pickett said. "I think it will pay dividends for me in my future."
The former Pitt standout emphasized that his approach in Philadelphia went beyond simply holding a clipboard behind the Super Bowl MVP quarterback. Despite backing up Hurts, who led the Eagles to a 40-22 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX, Pickett maintained a starter’s mentality throughout the season. "When I was in Philly I would prepare as if I was the starter, because you never know when that opportunity is going to come to play," he said.
Pickett appeared in five games for the Eagles, completing 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Most notably, he got to experience the ultimate victory when Philadelphia defeated the Chiefs, entering the game in the final moments to help close out the championship triumph.
Now in Cleveland, Pickett finds himself in a four-way competition for the starting job alongside veteran Joe Flacco, rookie Dillon Gabriel, and fellow newcomer Shedeur Sanders. "It's been a good split of reps among all four quarterbacks competing for the starting job, and I'm working well with Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders," Pickett said.
The schematic similarities between Philadelphia’s championship offense and Cleveland’s system have given Pickett an early advantage. That familiarity, combined with the professional habits and winning culture he absorbed as part of a Super Bowl-winning locker room, has positioned him well in what promises to be a tightly contested quarterback battle. His time in Philadelphia may have been brief, but the lessons learned from Hurts and the Eagles appear to be lasting ones—offering Pickett a legitimate shot at redefining his NFL career in Cleveland.