His rookie contract came with him to the Browns in the trade with the Eagles
Quarterback Kenny Pickett came to the Cleveland Browns on March 12 in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick. With the player, his contract came with him. Taken in Round 1 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he signed his rookie deal for $14.067 million on a four-year deal. After just two seasons, the Steelers traded him to the Eagles along with a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for a third-round draft pick and two seventh-round selections.
RELATED: WRAPPING UP THE PICKETT AND DTR TRADE
He was with the Eagles for just one season before being dealt to the Browns and will enter the fourth year of his original contract. All first-round draft selections sign a four-year deal with a fifth-year option, as each team must decide on when a player is entering their fourth year in the league. Pickett is set to count for $2.6 million against the cap in 2025.
But if the Browns keep him around in 2026 and approve the fifth-year option, his 2026 salary would be $22.117 million. The deadline to make the decision on his option is Thursday, May 1, at 4:00 pm.
ICYMI: #Browns won’t pick up QB Kenny Pickett’s 5th year option for 2026, which is worth $22.117M, source says –>https://t.co/2UuIoJPxob
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 29, 2025
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the Browns will decline Pickett’s fifth-year option. Cleveland could still re-sign Pickett if it decides to do so.
Pickett hasn’t even suited up for the Browns yet. He is penciled in as the backup QB but is expected to be involved in an open competition for the starting job with veteran Joe Flacco and the two rookies, third-round pick Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon, and fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders of Colorado.
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images
Injured veteran Deshaun Watson is expected to be placed on season-ending IR at some point.
In an article in the Akron Beacon-Journal written by Chris Easterling, Pickett stated:
“I do view myself as a starter. I’m sure they’re going to bring in another veteran and who knows what else, but I’m just excited to be here and compete with whoever. All the quarterback rooms I’ve been in, each room has been really tight. We all pull for each other, and that’s really what it’s all about: getting better together and making the team better. Definitely prepared for whatever situation that may present itself.”
In all, Pickett has played in 30 NFL games with 25 starts, with 15 wins and 10 losses. His pro career completion percentage is 62.4%. He has tossed for 4,765 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with 226 first-down conversions. He also has 106 rushes for 306 yards with an additional five scores.
RELATED: DON’T COUNT OUT KENNY PICKETT JUST BECAUSE JOE FLACCO SIGNED
By declining the fifth-year option, essentially, Pickett will become a free agent after this upcoming season unless he plays really well and receives an extension. A lot will depend on who gets the starting nod this year.