QB Kenny Pickett knows the intricacies of the AFC North rivalries and just what it takes to play in the AFC North.
He experienced those games firsthand during his first two seasons in the NFL, after the Steelers drafted him as the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Now, he's back in the AFC North, but this time as a member of the Browns.
"The AFC North is very competitive," Pickett said. "Playing in it for my first two years in the league, I understood that quickly. The games aren't always pretty, but it's a violent style of football, and I'm excited to get back into it."
The Browns acquired Pickett in a trade with the Eagles in exchange for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 5th round pick, which they announced on March 12. As the Browns work to restructure their quarterback room, Pickett has a chance to compete for his spot.
Pickett said during exit interviews following the 2024 season he had conversations with the Eagles' front office about the potential of being traded. Both sides believed Pickett had games with solid game tape that would help in the process. However, he did not know Cleveland was a potential destination.
"I'm extremely happy to be here," Pickett said. "I know how much talent is on this team. Having a chance to talk with the entire coaching staff, I'm very excited to get to work here."
During his NFL career, Pickett has been both a starting quarterback and the backup and has a 15-10 record as a starter. In his first two seasons with the Steelers, he started 24 of 25 games played. After being traded to the Eagles during the 2024 offseason, he served as the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts where he played in a total of five games for Philadelphia.
During his two seasons with Pittsburgh as their starting quarterback, Pickett said he learned how to handle adversity and how to find ways to a win game. He knows that one of the most important factors in the league is winning and figuring out how to stack those wins each week.
While as a backup, Pickett said he mentally approached the role as using the time as another year to prepare and improve as a player. He also had the opportunity to learn from another organization and coaching staff.
"I think it was really crucial for me just to see it through another lens and be in another system, play with different teammates," Pickett said. "They've got great players over there as well, so I think there was a lot of areas to learn and improve."
Now with the Browns, Pickett will experience his third coaching staff and organization in his NFL career. Yet, he has some familiarity with members of the front office and coaching staff, as Pickett said he met with head coach Kevin Stefanski at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine during the draft process. They went through Stefanski's system at the time, which Pickett described as being similar to the offense he ran in college at Pitt under Coach Mark Whipple – who served as the Browns' quarterbacks coach under Pat Shurmur in 2011 and 2012.
That experience of learning from Whipple during his three years at Pitt in an NFL system helped prepare him for the NFL with terminology and concepts that NFL teams run in their offensive schemes. Pickett also believes it will help speed up the learning process in Cleveland.
The Browns newest additions in QB Kenny Pickett, DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and OT Cornelius Lucas toured CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in their official visits to Cleveland.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas and his family visit CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Pickett already has one familiar face in the receiving corps with WR Jerry Jeudy, as the two have been training together during the offseason in Florida. Pickett said this is the first time the two of them have ever trained together but views it as an opportunity to get to spend time together with one of his new teammates.
"I was training there before I even got traded to the Browns, and now, we'll get a chance to work together down there," Pickett said. "But just seeing his route running, his ability to create separation, get open, his ball skills, everything that he can down the field, he's an incredible player, so throwing the ball to him is a pretty good play, so I think it's a good place to start."
As he makes the transition to a new team, the Browns are also working to rebuild their offense following a disappointing 2024 season, along with reconstructing their quarterback room.
Pickett acknowledged the Browns will likely add depth to their quarterback room whether through a veteran quarterback or a rookie in the draft – or both. Regardless of how the room shapes up over the offseason, Pickett said he is prepared to use the chance to showcase that he believes he's a starting-level quarterback.
"I just think it's a great opportunity to go compete again. That's really all you can ask for, and that's what I was told – coming in here, I have an opportunity to compete again, so I'm very excited for that," Pickett said. "All the quarterback rooms I've been in, each room has been really tight. We all pull for each other. 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."
