Since the final week of April, when the Cleveland Browns stopped Shedeur Sanders’ draft-day slide by selecting him in the fifth round of the most recent NFL Draft, the team – already one of the worst in recent decades – has become a true spectacle with the selection of the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.
After throwing 37 touchdown passes in his final year at the University of Colorado, Shedeur Sanders was projected to be a first-round pick. Analysts predicted he’d be the second quarterback taken after Cam Ward. However, in a surprising turn, he fell dramatically and was selected all the way at pick No. 144.
Now, the media-hyped quarterback has not arrived in the NFL as a star, and at this point, Sanders is the fourth and final option in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition – behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Kenny Pickett recommended to Kevin Stefanski as the starter
In the Browns’ ongoing quarterback saga, the one player who has received the least attention is Kenny Pickett. In fact, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was the first QB the team signed this year under head coach Kevin Stefanski, but most insiders have downplayed his chances.
All the attention has gone to Shedeur Sanders and Joe Flacco – and to a lesser extent, Dillon Gabriel. Flacco has the advantage of experience, having led the team to a 4-1 record and a playoff berth in 2023. As for Sanders, despite the hype, he’s a fifth-round pick, and Browns insider Lance Reisland (Cleveland.com) offered a recommendation to Stefanski:
“Pickett is big and athletic, he can throw from different launch points, he’s smart and can find advantageous matchups, and he has enough arm strength to stretch the field both horizontally and vertically. Stefanski sees a player who can thrive in his system.” – Lance Reisland, Cleveland.com
The Browns gave up a fifth-round pick to the Eagles for Pickett. He was originally a first-round pick in 2022 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a result, recent rumors have started placing Kenny Pickett at the front of the Browns’ quarterback race.
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