The Browns have begun to make changes to their quarterback room for the 2025 season.
Cleveland has agreed to trade QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and their 2025 5th round pick from Detroit to the Eagles in exchange for QB Kenny Pickett.
Pickett was drafted by the Steelers with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent his first two seasons with the Steelers, in which he earned 24 starts in 25 games played. In completed 446 of 713 passing attempts for 4,474 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, as well as threw 13 interceptions and was sacked 50 times for a loss of 355 yards.
He was then traded to the Eagles during the 2024 free agency period and served as the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts. Pickett played a total of five games for Philadelphia during the 2024 season and completed 25 of 42 passing attempts for 291 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception and was sacked four times for a loss of 33 yards. Pickett also earned a Super Bowl ring when the Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22, and he closed out the game for Philadelphia with one passing attempt and three carries.
Pickett, who owns a 15-10 record as a starter, now has another opportunity to compete in the Browns quarterback room for the job and establish his role among the quarterbacks.
The Browns acquired QB Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Eagles. Pickett has played 30 games in his NFL career with the Steelers and the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) looks on during warm-ups prior to the NFL championship playoff football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) scrambles against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) runs past the Miami bench on his way to a 22-yard touchdown run in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh upset the number second ranked, Miami 24-14. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Heisman trophy finalist, from left, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young stand for a photo with the Heisman Trophy before attending the award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) on the bench during their annual NCAA intrasquad football spring Blue Gold game, Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Blue team won 10-3. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett leaves the field following an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 41-7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
National Team quarterback Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) plays in the annual Spring NCAA football scrimmage, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Philadelphia Eagles' Kenny Pickett warms up before an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) passes over North Carolina State linebacker Drake Thomas (32) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Pittsburgh. North Carolina State won 30-29. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) celebrates after defeating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Quarterback Kenny Pickett, the Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick, meets with reporters at the team's training facility in Pittsburgh, Friday, April 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) throws the ball during warm-ups prior to the NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) rolls out to pass during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett answers a question during an NCAA college football news conference at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, July 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (11) warms up at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) celebrates with fans after a win against Syracuse in an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) has a Crucial Catch and United States flag sticker on his helmet during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett takes part in a scrambling drill during practice at their NFL football training camp facility in Latrobe, Pa., Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) takes part in drills during practice at their NFL football training camp facility in Latrobe, Pa., Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. Pickett is battling with fellow Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky for the right to replace longtime starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) sits on the bench between plays against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during Pittsburgh's football pro day , Monday, March 21, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) plays in an NCAA football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) plays against Miami in an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) warms up after a rain delay in the third quarter against Syracuse during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) plays against Louisville during an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
National Team quarterback Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh (8) drops back to pass in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) plays against North Carolina State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
The Browns first drafted Thompson-Robinson in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and spent the first two years of his NFL career with Cleveland. Over the course of two seasons, Thompson-Robinson played a total of 15 games, including five starts. He completed 121 of 230 passing attempts for 880 yards and one touchdown. He threw a total of 10 interceptions and was sacked 14 times for a loss of 107 yards.
During his rookie season, Thompson-Robinson stepped in for QB Deshaun Watson after he sustained an injury and earned his first start in Week 4 against the Ravens. In his next start in Week 11 against the Steelers, Thompson-Robinson led the Browns to a 13-10 victory over Pittsburgh.
Thompson-Robinson dealt with a hip injury towards the end of the 2024 season, and after rehabbing during the offseason, returned for 2024 training camp. He served as a backup quarterback option alongside Jameis Winston and played in his first game of the 2024 season in Week 7 against the Bengals.
