The Las Vegas Raiders traded with the Cleveland Browns, acquiring quarterback Kenny Pickett, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are sending a fifth-round pick to the Browns in the deal.
After Aidan O’Connell suffered a fractured wrist in the Raiders’ final preseason game last weekend, head coach Pete Carroll said the team would be looking for a veteran backup quarterback option. Rookie sixth-round pick Cam Miller was the Silver and Black’s only other option on the roster, but Miller struggled over the last two weeks and isn’t quite ready for regular-season action.
In steps Pickett, who became available after the Browns named Joe Flacco their starter last week.
The Pittsburgh product was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, starting 24 games over two seasons and going 14-10 for the Steelers. However, the organization was looking for more out of the quarterback, as he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Steelers signed Russell Wilson.
Pickett spent the majority of last season backing up Jalen Hurts for the Super Bowl Champs, appearing in five games but making just one start. The latter came via a Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants, where Philadelphia had nothing to play for but still won 14-3.
In the offseason, the Eagles traded him to the Browns, where he hoped to win the starting job. However, the former first-rounder suffered a hamstring injury on July 26 and wasn’t able to practice for the rest of training camp, nor play in any of Cleveland’s preseason games.
In three seasons and 30 career games (25 starts), Pickett has completed 62.6 percent of his passes, thrown for 4,474 yards and 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 306 yards and five touchdowns. The 27-year-old is in the last year of his rookie contract after the Browns opted not to pick up his fifth-year option this past April.
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