By Dianna Russini, Zac Jackson, Brooks Kubena and RJ Kraft
The Cleveland Browns have agreed to a deal to acquire quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick, according to a league source.
The fifth-round pick that Cleveland is sending to Philadelphia is from the Detroit Lions, according to a team source. The Eagles now hold eight selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, with four of those coming in the fifth round.
Pickett was traded to Philadelphia last year by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his lone season with the Super Bowl champion Eagles — as the backup to Jalen Hurts — Pickett completed 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He started in Week 17 when Hurts was sidelined with a concussion but had to come out of the game with a rib injury.
In three seasons, the 20th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has thrown for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Pickett turns 27 years old in June.
With Deshaun Watson re-tearing his Achilles tendon and uncertainty over whether he will play in 2025, Cleveland is in search of a starting QB. The team holds the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could address the position in April.
After being selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Thompson-Robinson has spent two seasons in Cleveland. He has started five games and completed 121 of 230 passes for 880 yards, one touchdown and 10 interceptions. The 25-year-old started two games last season for the 3-14 Browns.
Expect more adds to the QB room in Cleveland
The Browns traded for Pickett and will later add a second veteran quarterback, which is predictable and understandable. The team needs to remake the room, and Thompson-Robinson gets a fresh start. There’s just no way the Browns could have played him again after how poorly he performed last season.
As for Pickett, poor performances versus the Browns in 2023 helped the Steelers decide they needed to move on. He’s a functional backup and, for now, that’s enough for Cleveland.
It feels like the Browns will wait on Kirk Cousins as their likely 2025 opening day starter and draft a quarterback in April. Once the trade processes, Pickett will become the only healthy quarterback the Browns have under contract. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
Who is now the backup QB in Philadelphia?
The Eagles effectively added a fifth-round pick from their surplus in the quarterback room. The coaching staff was pleased with its options of either Pickett or Tanner McKee as a backup for Hurts. Both quarterbacks performed well in relief spots, especially McKee, who in two appearances completed 30 of 45 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns. The Eagles place a high value on their backup quarterback spot.
General manager Howie Roseman acquired Pickett last offseason by trading away a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-rounders to the Steelers for Pickett and a 2024 fourth-rounder. Pickett performed well in what was now a one-year recovery plan after spending his first two seasons with the Steelers. Pickett won his only start in Week 17 over the Dallas Cowboys. However, he was entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Eagles were not going to pick up a fifth-year option for someone filling a backup role. The Eagles chose the more cost-effective option for their future.
McKee, a sixth-round pick in 2023, won’t count for more than $1.2 million against the cap in any season through 2026. The Eagles recoup a draft pick by trading Pickett and add another affordable option in Thompson-Robinson to the quarterback room. Thompson-Robinson has plenty of experience with appearances in 15 games in two seasons. He gets to refine his game in a competition with McKee for the QB2 spot. Pickett gets to restart his career in Cleveland, where he’ll have a shot at competing for a starting job. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat writer
Required reading
(Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
