Kenny Pickett
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Could the Dolphins stand to benefit from acquiring Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Browns
The 2025 campaign is an important one for the Miami Dolphins. The fates of guys like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel are seemingly hanging in the balance, with the outcome of the season likely determining whether or not they have a future with the team. And yet, there are several big holes on the Dolphins’ roster entering the season.
While the team’s offense has proven to be solid with Tagovailoa under center, his propensity for getting injured means Miami has to be prepared to potentially play without him for an extended period of time. With that in mind, let’s check out a trade pitch that would see the Dolphins add another backup quarterback option into the mix from the Cleveland Browns.
Dolphins’ Kenny Pickett Trade Pitch
Dolphins receive: Kenny Pickett
Browns receive: 2026 fifth-round pick
When Tagovailoa is healthy, he’s going to be under center for the Dolphins. However, based on what we have seen in recent seasons, there’s no guarantee that he’s going to suit up in all 17 games. Behind Tagovailoa, Miami has former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson and seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers holding down the fort.
Neither guy is particularly reliable should they be forced into action for the Dolphins. Wilson has upside, but he struggled mightily to begin his career with the New York Jets before spending the 2024 season as a backup with the Denver Broncos. Ewers is a developmental prospect, so if he ends up playing as a rookie, that likely means something has gone seriously wrong.
Acquiring another option to help shore up the quarterback room wouldn’t necessarily be a bad idea. Enter Pickett, who could end up getting boxed out of the Browns’ deep quarterback room. Cleveland only traded for Pickett a few months ago, but with Joe Flacco being named the team’s Week 1 starter, and Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders lurking behind him, there simply may be no place for the former first-round pick on their roster.
The Browns gave up Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick for Pickett, but if he isn’t part of their future plans, getting anything back in return for him would be a win. Losing another young quarterback in Thompson-Robinson isn’t necessarily a great look, especially if they can only get a fifth rounder in return for Pickett, but beggars can’t be choosers, and this may be all Cleveland can get for him.
Would Dolphins, Browns Be Interested in This Kenny Pickett Trade?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett may be on the chopping block.
Getty ImagesCleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett may be on the chopping block.
While this trade could make sense for both sides, there’s no indication that either team is looking to swing this deal. For starters, all signs are pointing to the Browns keeping all four of Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders on their initial 53-man roster. It’s not necessarily a typical plan for the position, but Cleveland is likely going to be a bad team in 2025, so they may as well see what they have in these guys.
In Miami, they seem pretty content with Wilson and Ewers behind Tagovailoa. It’s tough to believe the Dolphins would have gotten this far if they didn’t feel comfortable with these guys, and there’s no guarantee that Pickett, who’s been mediocre at best to begin his career, would be any better than them. Surprises happen all the time in the NFL, but it seems unlikely that either team would be interested in pulling the trigger on this deal.