Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is reportedly struggling mightily at Cleveland Browns OTAs. According to Browns beat writer Zac Jackson, Pickett has lost ground in the quarterback competition, and Joe Flacco appears to be playing much better.
“Joe Flacco, an 18-year veteran who’s played under Stefanski before, should be well ahead of rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Flacco is probably ahead of Kenny Pickett, too. Flacco throws the ball in a practice setting better than any of them. Add his overall experience, and he’s the favorite to win the job, unless Stefanski and others in the organization just favor Pickett — or unless Pickett outplays Flacco in the coming months." Jackson wrote.
ESPN Cleveland’s Aaron Goldhammer offered up another report that stated Pickett had thrown many near interceptions and has struggled mightily, to the point that Goldhammer declared Pickett as the ‘consensus worst player’ at Browns OTAs, ranking Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel over him.
Pickett was Jalen Hurts’ backup this year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, throwing for 291 yards and two touchdowns in his one start. The Eagles were Pickett’s childhood team growing up, and he got to win a Super Bowl with them. Pickett even entered late in the game when the Eagles were crushing the Kansas City Chiefs.
Over his career, Pickett has played in 30 games, throwing for 4786 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. The Steelers’ first-round pick out of Pitt in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickett was heralded as a player who could help turn around the franchise after playing next door at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.