Everyone thought the AFC North was about to get real weird. When the news broke back in March 2025 that the Cleveland Browns were trading for Kenny Pickett, it felt like one of those "only in Cleveland" moments. Imagine the narrative: a former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick crossing enemy lines to save the rival that used to torment him. But as we sit here in early 2026, the kenny pickett contract browns decision is officially a footnote in NFL history.
He never even threw a pass in a regular-season game for them. Not one.
The Browns sent quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to get Pickett. On paper, it was a savvy "buy-low" move by GM Andrew Berry. Deshaun Watson was coming off another major Achilles injury, and the team needed a cheap, experienced backup who might just have some untapped upside. Pickett’s salary was a bargain, carrying a cap hit of just $2.62 million for the 2025 season.
The Kenny Pickett Contract Browns Decision That Changed Everything
Things actually started out looking pretty good for the kid from Pitt. During early OTAs and minicamps, Pickett was taking the first-team reps. He was the guy. Local beat writers were already drafting "Pickett’s Revenge" headlines for the Week 1 matchup. Then, training camp happened. Specifically, July 26, 2025, happened.
Pickett pulled his hamstring during a late-practice drill.
It didn't seem like a season-ender at first, but it sidelined him long enough for the door to swing wide open. While Pickett was in the training room, Joe Flacco—who Cleveland brought back on a veteran deal—was out on the field looking like he was 25 again. Flacco took control of the offense and never let go.
By the time the final preseason game against the Rams rolled around, the writing wasn't just on the wall; it was carved into it in neon letters. The Browns had also drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Suddenly, the "overcrowded" quarterback room was a liability.
Why Cleveland Walked Away From the Fifth-Year Option
The real turning point in the kenny pickett contract browns decision was the deadline for his fifth-year option. For those who aren't salary cap nerds, a first-round pick's contract includes a team option for a fifth year. For Pickett, that would have cost the Browns $22.1 million fully guaranteed for the 2026 season.
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Andrew Berry declined it. Honestly, who could blame him?
- Paying $22 million for a backup is salary cap suicide.
- The Browns were already paying Deshaun Watson a king's ransom.
- The emergence of Dillon Gabriel made Pickett expendable.
If Pickett had won the job and played like a Pro Bowler, the Browns would have been happy to negotiate a new deal or even franchise tag him. But once the injury happened and the rookies showed flashes of brilliance, the math just didn't work. Cleveland wasn't going to gamble $22 million on a "maybe."
The Vegas Escape Hatch
By late August 2025, the Raiders were in a panic. Aidan O’Connell had fractured his wrist in the preseason finale, and they were desperate for a veteran to sit behind Geno Smith. The Browns saw an opportunity to get their investment back.
On August 25, 2025, Cleveland traded Pickett to the Raiders for a 2026 fifth-round pick. Basically, they rented Pickett for a few months of training camp and got their draft capital back. It was a wash for Cleveland, but it marked the end of a very strange era that never really began.
The decision to move on wasn't just about the money. It was about the future. Keeping Pickett would have stunted the growth of Shedeur Sanders and Gabriel. In Cleveland, where the quarterback carousel has been spinning for decades, the front office finally decided to stop chasing "reclamation projects" and trust their own scouting.
The Financial Reality of the Pickett Era
The numbers behind this are actually pretty fascinating when you break them down. Pickett's total rookie deal was worth about $14 million. Because he was traded twice (Steelers to Eagles, then Eagles to Browns), the cap hits were fragmented.
- Pittsburgh paid the signing bonus (the big $7.4 million chunk).
- Philadelphia took a small hit for his 2024 season.
- Cleveland was only on the hook for his $2.62 million base salary in 2025.
- Las Vegas ended up paying the remainder after the August trade.
It was a low-risk, medium-reward play for Cleveland. They didn't lose much, but they didn't gain a starter either. They chose the flexibility of the 2026 draft and the development of their rookies over the stability of a veteran who couldn't stay healthy when it mattered most.
What This Means for Future Browns Contracts
The kenny pickett contract browns decision signals a shift in how Cleveland handles the most important position in sports. They are no longer desperate. Even with the Watson contract still looming over the books like a dark cloud, the front office is becoming more disciplined.
Declining that fifth-year option was the most "adult" move the Browns have made in years. They saw a player who wasn't clearly better than their cheap rookies and they didn't let "sunk cost fallacy" dictate their roster building.
If you're a Browns fan, you should actually be happy about how this turned out. The team didn't get stuck with a $22 million bill for a guy who might not even be the best backup on the roster. They got a draft pick back. They cleared the path for Shedeur Sanders to eventually take the reins.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
Now that we are moving deeper into 2026, the focus for the Browns is clear. They have two first-round picks this year and ten picks total. Here is how they should navigate the post-Pickett landscape:
- Prioritize the Rookie Scale: With Gabriel and Sanders on cheap contracts, Cleveland needs to use their cap space to fix the offensive line, which struggled mightily during the 2025 season.
- Identify the Post-Watson Exit: The front office needs to decide if they are going to cut bait with Watson's contract after the 2026 season. The Pickett experiment showed they are willing to move on from big names if the production isn't there.
- Avoid Veteran "Middle-Class" QBs: The Pickett trade proves that chasing former first-rounders who failed elsewhere is rarely a long-term fix. Stick to the draft.
The Pickett era in Cleveland was short, weird, and ultimately productive in a way nobody expected—it gave the team the clarity they needed to move on to the next generation.