The Browns' quarterback room was among the most jam-packed in the NFL this preseason, but with Week 1 looming, Cleveland is clearing some room on that crowded depth chart.
The Browns are trading backup passer Kenny Pickett to the Raiders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. With Joe Flacco set as Kevin Stefanski's Week 1 starter and Cleveland keeping two notable rookies to develop in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, Pickett became expendable ahead of the roster cuts deadline.
Las Vegas is now set to add some insurance behind starter Geno Smith, who the team also acquired in the offseason. A recent injury to Aiden O'Connell left the Raiders' quarterback room thinner.
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Here's what to know about Pickett being dealt to Las Vegas, including an updated look at both teams' depth charts.
MORE:Details on WR Amari Cooper's new deal with Raiders
Kenny Pickett trade details
Browns receive: 2026 fifth-round pick
Raiders receive: QB Kenny Pickett
Schefter reported that the Browns are sending Pickett to Las Vegas in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The trade marks a quick ending to Pickett's time in Cleveland. A former starter for the Steelers as a 2022 first-round pick, Pickett fell out of favor in Pittsburgh following the 2023 season. He had 13 interceptions over two seasons, and the Steelers turned their eyes to new quarterback options in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and, more recently, Aaron Rodgers.
Pickett was traded to the Eagles in the 2024 offseason, and he was a backup to Jalen Hurts on Philadelphia's Super Bowl-winning team last season. In five games, Pickett totaled 291 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Still just 27, Pickett was then traded from the Eagles to the Browns in March. Initially, he appeared to have a clear path to another starting job; Cleveland had a wide-open depth chart with Deshaun Watson's long-term injury. But as the team made more transactions, Pickett's chances at being QB1 decreased.
The veteran Flacco, who was signed by the Browns in free agency, was named Stefanski's Week 1 starter with his proven experience and arm talent. Cleveland also drafted two big-name rookies in Gabriel and Sanders, who will both be valuable to develop throughout 2025 and made less sense to cut because of their age; Pickett also dealt with a hamstring injury throughout training camp.
That left Pickett as a trade candidate in what became a four-man quarterback room. The Raiders recently got news that backup passer Aidan O'Connell would miss time in 2025 due to an injury, and with this trade — the third involving Pickett in the last two years — they get some needed depth behind Geno Smith.
Raiders QB depth chart
Rank Player
1 Geno Smith
2 Kenny Pickett
3 Aidan O'Connell (out 6-8 weeks)
4 Cam Miller
The Pickett deal doesn't put Smith's status as the Raiders' starter in jeopardy. The former Seahawks passer was acquired early in the NFL offseason, and new head coach Pete Carroll has only shown indications that Smith owns the QB1 job for 2025. The 34-year-old Smith remains one of the most efficient passers in the league, totaling 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024.
However, Pickett should now slot in as the top backup to Smith. O'Connell, 26, did have previous experience starting for Las Vegas, but the team announced that the quarterback broke his wrist in their preseason finale. O'Connell is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks.
Carroll also noted that the Raiders would look to add another backup quarterback while O'Connell is sidelined.
There are reasons to believe Pickett can succeed if he's forced to step in for Smith. He didn't get a very long leash to find success in Pittsburgh over his two years, and he's been a backup option since then. With some time to continue his development, Pickett, the owner of 4,765 NFL passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns, could be a solid insurance option to Smith.
For now, the player most affected by Pickett's arrival is rookie Cam Miller. The recent sixth-round selection and former North Dakota State star has reportedly shown some encouraging signs in training camp, but at 24, his 2025 season will be much more focused on development rather than being a realistic backup to Smith.
Browns QB depth chart
Rank Player
1 Joe Flacco
2 Dillon Gabriel
3 Shedeur Sanders
Flacco had already been named the Browns' Week 1 starter, claiming the top spot on the depth chart. Whether he'll actually start the full season is another question, as Cleveland might want to see what it has in its two rookies if the 2025 season goes south.
For now, Gabriel is expected to be the top backup over Sanders, but it could easily be a 2A and 2B situation. Both have shown their flashes in training camp and the preseason, with Sanders getting plenty of time in the spotlight, but the two rookies will be on the bench to begin 2025 either way.
With Pickett gone, the only player who stands in the way of the Browns playing their highly-publicized rookie quarterbacks is the 40-year-old Flacco.