Cleveland Browns normal supervisor Andrew Berry stated repeatedly that the staff was ready to carry 4 quarterbacks on their preliminary 53-man roster. However on Monday evening, the group shifted course as soon as it acquired commerce curiosity in Kenny Pickett from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Browns introduced that they’ve traded Pickett to the Raiders in trade for a 2026 fifth-round decide.
Raiders backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell broke his wrist within the preseason finale vs. the Arizona Cardinals this previous weekend and is predicted to overlook 6-8 weeks, per ESPN. That moved normal supervisor John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll to contemplate different choices behind starter Geno Smith. Pickett, in a logjam with Joe Flacco and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in Cleveland, turned a horny possibility for Las Vegas.
Pickett didn’t play in a single one in all Cleveland’s three preseason contests because of a hamstring harm. This marks the second time this offseason that Pickett, the No. 20 total decide within the 2022 NFL Draft, has been traded. Cleveland acquired Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles in trade for a fifth-round decide and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson again in March.
Shedeur Sanders is strictly who the Browns thought he was … and that is not a nasty factor
Ryan Wilson
Pickett, who has beginning expertise from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, served as the first backup to Jalen Hurts because the Eagles received the Tremendous Bowl final season. Now he seems to be in line for the same function with the Raiders.
With this transfer, the Browns are set to have Gabriel and Sanders because the backups to the 40-year-old Flacco when common season begins in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
The Browns chosen Gabriel within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft earlier than including Sanders within the fifth. Each skilled ups and downs all through the preseason, however Pickett’s departure appears to sign they’ll each stay with the staff previous roster cutdown day on Tuesday. How the pecking order behind Flacco performs out stays to be seen, however let’s check out what we realized over the previous few weeks.
What’s subsequent for Shedeur Sanders?
Regardless of the Browns beforehand having 5 quarterbacks on roster, Sanders bought the beginning in Cleveland’s first preseason matchup in opposition to the Carolina Panthers. The veteran Flacco wasn’t going to swimsuit up within the Browns’ first exhibition sport, then Gabriel and Pickett have been dominated out with hamstring accidents, leaving Sanders and Tyler Huntley as the one two quarterbacks.
After a gradual begin, Sanders shortly rebounded to finish 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions in a 30-10 victory. He regarded composed within the pocket, and made a number of spectacular throws. The previous Colorado star shortly turned the story of the sports activities world, as everybody started to surprise if he was rising up the depth chart — and even had an opportunity to unseat the presumed favourite, Flacco.
Sanders missed the Browns’ second preseason matchup at Philadelphia because of an indirect harm, however suited up for the finale vs. the Los Angeles Rams. This outing was a unique story than his first. Sanders accomplished simply 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards, and took a whopping 5 sacks. As a substitute of getting the ball out to a goal or just throwing it away, Sanders would drift backwards and discover himself in hassle as an alternative of stepping up within the pocket.
Whereas Sanders regarded comfy vs. Carolina, he regarded fairly the other vs. Los Angeles. When it appeared he would have an opportunity to guide a game-winning drive with two minutes left within the sport, Sanders was really pulled by coach Kevin Stefanski for Huntley.
“Clearly we did not play nice as an offense within the second half,” Stefanski stated when requested about Sanders’ benching. “That is by no means on one individual, so we will be higher in a bunch of areas and simply felt like we wished to provide [Huntley] a final drive.”
Has Dillon Gabriel locked up the QB2 function?
After lacking the Browns’ first preseason matchup, Gabriel bought the beginning in Week 2 of the exhibition season. In a 22-13 victory in opposition to the Eagles, the previous Oregon quarterback standout accomplished 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and an interception that was returned for a landing. The pick-six could headline Gabriel’s first NFL motion to some individuals, however it was total a strong outing. He ran the offense and was principally decisive with the soccer. There weren’t any “wow” performs, however it was an honest begin.
The preseason finale was completely different for Gabriel, as he gave followers a glimpse at why he was a Heisman Trophy finalist final season. Gabriel accomplished 12 of 19 passes for a team-high 129 yards and one landing. That included an 11-play, 86-yard landing drive with two minutes remaining within the first half.
Gabriel wasn’t blessed with a number of the bodily presents different star quarterbacks have, but when he is somebody who could make good choices and take what the protection offers him, he might have a future on this league.
NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported that Flacco by no means actually bought pushed by Cleveland’s different quarterbacks over the previous few months. It makes you surprise how a lot of a quarterback battle this actually was.
It is simple to surmise that Sanders ended the preseason on a low be aware whereas Gabriel did simply the other, however when you’re questioning who would come off the bench first to interchange Flacco, it is possible the quarterback that was chosen within the third spherical versus the fifth spherical.
