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Browns Trade for Former First-Round Pick to Replace QB Deshaun Watson

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 5:57 PM ET

With quarterback Deshaun Watson expected to miss the entire 2025 season after re-rupturing his Achilles tendon, the Cleveland Browns were forced regroup to on the fly.

So far, the Browns have gotten just 3,365 yards passing, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across 19 games over three seasons since making Watson the richest QB in the NFL at the time back in 2022 when they gave him a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract.

The Browns are presumably stuck with Watson’s contract for its entirety as they would have to eat an exorbitant amount of dead cap to get rid of him.

Cleveland would absorb a $172.3 million dead-cap hit if it cut Watson pre-June 1 and an $82.9 million dead-cap penalty if it cut him post-June 1. It doesn’t much better next year as a pre-June 1 cut would result in $135.9 million in dead cap and $81.6 million in dead cap post-June 1.

With 2024 backup-turned-starter Jameis Winston hitting the free-agent market, Cleveland was set to enter next season with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe as the only healthy QBs on their roster.

However, the Browns swung a deal on Monday—the unofficial start to free agency—to bring in former first-round pick Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Thompson-Robinson and a 2024 fifth-round pick, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The 26-year-old Pickett likely jumps to the front of the Browns depth chart barring them drafting a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick next month.

Pickett, the No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, has two years of starting experience and a 15-10 record as a starter under his belt. In his three NFL seasons, Picket has logged 4,765 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 79.3 passer rating.

Pickett’s departure leaves Tanner McKee as the likely backup to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia with Thompson-Robinson as the likely third-stringer.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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