Rapoport: Steelers Fans Won't Believe Kenny Pickett's Surprising Chance To Start For The Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett with their 2022 first-round pick, hoping to find their quarterback of the future. After two seasons and numerous opportunities, the Steelers decided to strengthen their quarterback room, which didn’t sit well with Pickett. When the team brought in veteran Russell Wilson on a minimum deal before the 2024 season, Pickett requested a trade.

Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, after just one season with the Eagles, he was traded again to the Cleveland Browns on Monday. In exchange, the Eagles received quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick. With Cleveland's uncertain quarterback situation, many believe Pickett could have a legitimate shot at starting for his new team.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport broke down the deal on Monday, offering insight that Pickett will have a strong chance to win the starting job in Cleveland. If he does, the Steelers vs. Browns matchups in 2025 could be filled with intense drama.

During the 2024 season, Pickett showed flashes of promise while backing up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. Despite limited opportunities, he demonstrated a strong understanding of the offense and showed his ability to make accurate throws under pressure, at times. He also showed some of the same exact struggles that got him traded out of the Steel City.

Pickett's slight progress was somewhat hindered by a midseason injury that sidelined him for a few weeks, stalling the momentum he had built. Still, his brief appearances were enough to give the Browns confidence in his potential. Pickett has had a lot of question marks around him and now the Browns want to see if they can unlock his full potential.

Pickett’s time in Pittsburgh was marked by a sense of frustration, as he felt that the Steelers never truly gave him a fair chance to grow into the starting role. After being drafted as the future face of the franchise, Pickett believed that the team should have supported him more rather than bring in another quarterback in Wilson. He felt like Mike Tomlin had lied to him and that's why he wanted traded.

The decision to add Wilson, especially on a veteran minimum deal, seemed to send a clear message to Pickett: the Steelers were no longer committed to him as their guy. This sense of being wronged fueled his desire for a fresh start, and when the opportunity came to join the Eagles and later the Browns, Pickett likely saw it as a chance to prove the Steelers made a mistake.

Ex-Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Looking For Revenge In Cleveland

Now, with a new chapter in Cleveland, Pickett faces the unique opportunity of not just rebuilding his career, but also seeking redemption against the team that drafted him. The Browns' quarterback situation remains unsettled, and Pickett is in a prime position to claim the starting role. This is his chance to show that he can lead an offense and perform at a high level, especially against his former team. The stakes are high for Pickett, as his future in the NFL may depend on how he performs in this new role with the Browns.

If Pickett does earn the starting spot in Cleveland, the 2025 Steelers vs. Browns matchups will be highly anticipated. For Pickett, it would be a chance to prove to the Steelers' organization and their fans that he was the quarterback they should have stuck with. It’s a storyline that will add even more drama to an already intense rivalry, with Pickett looking to exact some revenge on the team that once believed he wasn’t the answer at quarterback.

The Steelers are still searching for their long-term solution at quarterback. With Justin Fields leaving in free agency to join the New York Jets, the Steelers are left weighing their options. The team’s quarterback room now enters murky waters.

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