Kenny Pickett Earns Early Endorsement from Browns Head Coach

While Kenny Pickett, a former Pitt quarterback All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist, has yet to put on a Cleveland Browns uniform, he is already receiving some early support from his new head coach.

During the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. on Monday, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke about the recently acquired Pickett, who is the current front-runner to take on the starting quarterback job in Cleveland.

“It’s March 31. There’s still a draft to be had. It’s not August 1. I will say this, Kenny Pickett’s a guy that I believe in, that we believe in, so we’ll see how it all shakes out,” Stefanski told reporters.

Pickett was acquired by Cleveland on March 10 after winning Super Bowl LIX with Philadelphia. Stefanski discussed what type of player the Browns are receiving in the 26-year-old signal caller.

“Very excited about Kenny,” Stefanski said. “We’ve had him up in our building and the brief time talking to him understanding what he knows about this game and how he’s been coached. I caught up with some of his former coaches in Philly and filled me in on the type of person, type of player, so excited for Kenny and the opportunity; see what he’s capable of and he’s got the right make-up for it.

“I think he’s a very intelligent, accurate passer. He’s made plays in games. He’s won football games with great decision making. He’s a plus-athlete. I’ve seen him make all the throws. I really think he fits in whatever you’re planning on doing. Talented overall player.”

The Browns are trying to get fans comfortable with the idea of Kenny Pickett starting in Week 1. Stefanski is "very excited" about him: pic.twitter.com/nEsFPo6XyR

— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) March 31, 2025

Cleveland owns the second-overall pick in the 2025 draft and there is some speculation that the Browns could take a quarterback with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as a top candidate. However, there is more steam towards the Browns selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

With free agent Russell Wilson signing with the New York Giants, Pickett is situated as the lone quarterback on the roster at the current moment that would be available for Week 1. The Browns are expecting Deshaun Watson to miss significant time during the 2025 campaign after tearing his right Achilles tendon. On the same day Stefanski spoke, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam also met with the media and called the team’s trade for Watson a “big swing-and-miss.”

Prior to being dealt to Cleveland, Pickett spent one season in Philadelphia where he started one game against the Dallas Cowboys in which he complete 10-of-15 passes (66.7%) for 143 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game with an injury. In five appearances during the regular season, he completed 25-of-42 passes (59.5%) for 291 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also appeared in the late stages of the Super Bowl to kneel out the victory.

Pickett started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he went 14-10 as a starter before being traded to the Eagles after the 2023-24 season for a pair of draft picks. The Steelers selected Pickett 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, Pickett complete 63 percent of his passes for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. The following year, he connected on 62 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Pickett spent five seasons at Pitt as he grew into one of the top quarterbacks in the country by his fifth year.

In 2021, Pickett helped the Panthers to an 11-2 record and capture their first ACC Championship. He completed 67% of his passes for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns — both setting single-season program records — to only seven interceptions. He also added five rushing touchdowns, which brought his total to 47 on the year, another program single-season record.

Thanks to his outstanding 2021 campaign, Pickett was a Heisman finalist, All-American and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner and ACC Player of the Year.

Across his Pitt career, Pickett became the all-time program leader in passing yards (12,303), pass completions (1,045), passing touchdowns (81), most 300-yard passing games (16) and most 400-yard passing games (five).