It’s been a wild ride under center in Cleveland this year - and that’s putting it mildly. What started as a desperate attempt to patch together a quarterback room turned into one of the more bizarre and, oddly enough, vindicating storylines of the Browns’ season.
Let’s rewind. Back in January, the Browns confirmed Deshaun Watson had undergone a second Achilles surgery.
That put any hopes of a 2025 comeback on ice. From there, GM Andrew Berry didn’t waste time.
He swung a deal with the Eagles to bring in Kenny Pickett, sending Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick the other way. The idea was clear: stabilize the position with a young, former first-rounder who might still have some upside.
But that was just the beginning.
In April, Cleveland brought back a familiar face - Joe Flacco - on a one-year deal. Then came the draft, and with it, two more quarterbacks: Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. Suddenly, the Browns had a QB room that looked more like a college quarterback showcase than an NFL depth chart.
Training camp in Berea turned into must-watch theater. Sanders got the nod in the first preseason game against Carolina, Gabriel started the second against Philly, and Flacco handled the third versus the Rams.
The one guy who didn’t get a preseason start? Kenny Pickett.
He was sidelined with a nagging hamstring injury and never really got into rhythm. With the team needing to keep both Sanders and Gabriel on the 53-man roster, Pickett was the odd man out - again.
Cleveland shipped him to the Raiders for a 2026 fifth-round pick, marking the third trade of his four-year career.
At the time, the move raised eyebrows. The Browns had just invested in Pickett months earlier.
Why bail so quickly? But fast forward to Week 15, and it’s starting to look like a savvy move - maybe even a masterstroke.
Pickett made his first start for the Raiders this past Sunday against the Eagles, and to say it went poorly would be generous.
Philadelphia’s defense was relentless. The Raiders managed just 75 total yards of offense on 42 plays - that’s 1.79 yards per play, the lowest mark for the franchise since at least 1963. For context, their previous worst was 2.0 yards per play in a 2006 game… which they somehow won.
Pickett’s stat line? He completed 15 of 25 passes for just 64 yards.
The Raiders lost 35 yards on sacks - the same amount they gained on the ground across 13 rushing attempts. They picked up only seven first downs, didn’t score a single point, and never even sniffed the Eagles’ 30-yard line.
It was a brutal debut, and it only reinforced the Browns’ decision to move on. Sure, Cleveland’s own offense wasn’t exactly lighting it up - they were just blown out 31-3 by the Bears - but in the grand scheme of things, they may have dodged a bullet by cutting ties with Pickett when they did.
And now? Browns fans have something new to focus on.
With the season spiraling toward a 3-11 finish, the spotlight shifts to Shedeur Sanders. The rookie brings intrigue, mobility, and a spark this offense desperately needs.
He may not be the long-term answer just yet, but he gives fans a reason to stay tuned in down the stretch.
For a team that’s been through the quarterback carousel more times than anyone can count, that’s at least a step in the right direction. And in a season filled with low points, seeing Pickett’s struggles in silver and black might just be the silver lining Cleveland didn’t know it needed.