CLEVELAND, OH — With the much publicized quarterback competition between rookies Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, Super Bowl champion backup quarterback Kenny Pickett may be the best option at QB1.
Pickett, originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Pitt, before being dealt to his hometown Philadelphia Eagles, and winning a Super Bowl on the bench as a backup to Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts.
In two and a half seasons for the Steelers, Pickett accumulated a 15-10 record, passed for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, with a 79.3 quarterback rating.
While not the most sterling record, it is still a fairly respectable record for the former 6’3, 220-pound 2021 Heisman Trophy finalist. Some of his successes and struggles in Pittsburgh could be fairly attributed to offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
In Cleveland, Pickett will have a chance to establish himself as QB1, thanks to Joe Flacco being close to either retiring or being traded to a team in need of a bridge starter/mentor, while Sanders and Gabriel battle it out to be QB2.
In what could be a pivotal year for Pickett, Cleveland may offer him the best chance to prove and show that he’s either a viable starter or a career backup.
While the status of franchise running back Nick Chubb is still up in the air, the Browns have a legit WR1 in Jerry Jeudy on the outside, along with taking two workhorse running backs in Quinshon Judkins from the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes from right down the road in Columbus and explosive speedster Dylan Sampson from Tennessee to help take some of the load off of Pickett.
Additionally, under head coach Kevin Stefanski and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, the Browns will run a more run-heavy offense, better tailored to Pickett’s strengths in play action and multiple tight-end sets featuring Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr.
With Rees calling the plays under Stefanski, don’t be surprised to see a lot of 12-personnel from the Browns this season, featuring both Njoku and Fannin Jr. with Judkins being the main running back flanking Pickett.
If Pickett can show that he still had something to offer for the Browns, this could be a potential breakout season. It is now up to the former Pitt Panther to take advantage of it this coming season.