Kenny Pickett entered training camp as arguably the leader to become the Cleveland Browns‘ next starting quarterback, but circumstances have changed drastically in just one week.
Pickett suffered a hamstring injury last Saturday. On Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Pickett will return quickly. But hamstring strains have a tendency to linger and a couple weeks off is usually the earliest any professional athlete ever returns to the field after such an injury.
In Pickett’s case, the timing really couldn’t be worse, as he’s currently embroiled in a four-way QB competition.
Dan Graziano of ESPN reported on July 28 that the job in Cleveland is wide open, but also that the team is probably moving one of its signal-callers by the end of August.
“Cleveland is open to the idea of any one of the four winning the job for Week 1, and the way the coaching staff divides reps in the coming weeks could offer clues about who is in the lead,” Graziano wrote. “It’s also possible — even likely — they end up trading one of these guys before the season starts to ease the logjam.”
Kenny Pickett Now Browns’ Most Likely Trade Candidate, as Joe Flacco Becomes Likely Week 1 Starter
Several insiders around the team project Cleveland will make its QB1 call by mid-August, just around the time the Browns hold two joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of their second preseason game of the summer.
If Pickett misses a couple of weeks, which is often the minimum with regards to tricky soft tissue injuries, it’s hard to fathom he still has a real chance to win the starting gig.
Whoever fails to win the starting job between Pickett and fellow veteran Joe Flacco has always been likely to end up on the trade block, as Cleveland has more incentive to hold onto rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Stefanski acknowledged Monday that the majority of first-team reps will transfer from Pickett to Flacco over the remainder of the injury.
That, plus Flacco’s history with Cleveland (leading the team to a 4-1 record down the stretch in 2023 and then to the playoffs) and the timing of Pickett’s hamstring all combine to render Flacco the clear favorite for QB1. If —and likely when — that happens, Pickett becomes the favorite to leave Cleveland via a trade.
Vikings Sensible Trade Destination for Kenny Pickett if Sam Howell Continues to Struggle
One destination that could make sense for Pickett is the Minnesota Vikings, should he actually fall out of the running in Cleveland and should Vikings backup QB Sam Howell continue to falter in training camp.
Brett Rypien and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, the two other backup signal-callers on Minnesota’s roster, have just four NFL starts between them. And since presumed QB1 J.J. McCarthy has never taken a regular-season snap, Minnesota fits the profile of a team that may soon be in the market for a semi-proven veteran.
Pickett will make just $2.62 million on the final year of his rookie deal before becoming a free agent next March. He is 15-10 as a starter and has tallied 4,765 passing yards, 15 TDs and 14 INTs.
While a far cry from hero numbers, Pickett and his career production should be worth an early Day-3 pick to the Vikings. That would allow Cleveland to recoup the draft asset it sent to Philly for the QB, while also clearing the way for Flacco and the rookies in 2025.
