During the NFL offseason, the Browns made a move that initially seemed risky-not necessarily because of quality, but due to age. They brought in Joe Flacco. Then came Kenny Pickett, who never really made an impact in Pittsburgh, was traded to Philadelphia, became part of the championship team (he participated in four plays in the Super Bowl-one incomplete pass and three kneel-downs to end the game), and has now joined Cleveland to compete for the starting job. Later on, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel were added to the mix. The challenge to determine who will earn the starting spot is a significant one.
The two leading candidates for the starting position are Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Flacco brings experience, knowledge, and a quick adaptation to Kevin Stefanski’s system-something that could prove valuable for the team. On the other hand, there’s no telling what to expect from Kenny Pickett, but he could surprise everyone with his performance.
Stefanski leaning toward Kenny Pickett as the starter
Even though Joe Flacco is already familiar with Kevin Stefanski’s system from their time together in 2023, the veteran quarterback may not have such an easy path to the starting role.
In a conversation reported by NFL insider Cameron Wolfe for NFL Network, Stefanski revealed that while Flacco has better command of the offense, he is eager to get the most out of Kenny Pickett, as he sees strong potential in him.
He talked about Kenny Pickett and his talent, and feeling like they can develop more out of him, as well,”… “We’ve seen in the past, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, sort of get career resurgences, and there’s a belief they can do some of that with Kevin Stefanski.
Wolfe reported.
Based on what Pickett showed with the Steelers and Eagles, it’s reasonable to remain cautious about the Browns’ head coach’s comments-which, while respectable, remain to be proven.
The Browns aren’t seeing the reality clearly, one the Steelers grasped quickly
Kenny Pickett was a first-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He arrived with high expectations to become the successor to the legendary Ben Roethlisberger and was seen as the next franchise quarterback. But reality hit hard. After just two years, the Steelers recognized their mistake. A thorough review of his performance revealed a disappointing stat line: only 4,474 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions-far from what was expected. Realizing this, they shipped him off within Pennsylvania to Philadelphia.
Maybe it was urgency that led the Steelers to draft Pickett-otherwise, it’s hard to understand why they chose him. He simply wasn’t delivering what they needed to be a competitive, championship-contending team once again.
Kenny Pickett, a backup-nothing more
Perhaps Cleveland has high hopes of turning Pickett into a diamond in the rough, but the truth is he’s far from it. He may be a decent backup, but his numbers and skillset don’t offer much beyond that.
Read the full article here
