Kenny Pickett is preparing for a change of scenery in Nevada.
Pickett, who found himself in a much-talked-about competition against three others for the role of leading the offense in Cleveland, was traded to the Raiders on Monday evening, according to announcements from both teams. The Browns will receive a 2026 sixth-round pick in the draft from the Raiders as part of the agreement.
The Raiders’ secondary quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, suffered a broken wrist during their final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals last Saturday. O’Connell is anticipated to be out of action for six to eight weeks during his recovery period, which created a noticeable need on the Raiders’ roster behind their primary quarterback, Geno Smith. Pickett is highly likely to immediately take on the role of backup in Las Vegas.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
Pickett had been vying for the starting position in Cleveland in a group of four contenders, although his progress was hampered by an early hamstring injury sustained during training camp. The Browns have since designated veteran Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback for the season opener on September 7, with Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders providing support behind him on the depth chart.
The Browns acquired Pickett via trade in the preceding offseason, and subsequently selected Gabriel and Sanders in the third and fifth rounds of the NFL Draft, respectively. Sanders’ unexpectedly late selection, falling from the first round into the third day of the draft, was a prominent topic during that weekend in April, and he has garnered considerable attention throughout the preseason period.
Reports indicated that the team had intended to retain all four quarterbacks on the roster, but with Pickett’s departure, the two rookies appear to have secured their spots on the team.
Pickett, initially drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, has experienced numerous changes of teams in recent years. Following two seasons with the Steelers, he spent the subsequent season with the Philadelphia Eagles, being part of the team during their Super Bowl championship pursuit. He remains under his original rookie contract, but has now been involved in three trades as he enters his fourth season in the league.
The Raiders had a 4-13 record last season, and have since appointed Pete Carroll as their new head coach. Their season is scheduled to begin on September 7 with a game against the New England Patriots.
