Browns analyst echoes takes about potential odd man out in QB competition

It certainly seems ahead of training camp that Kenny Pickett could become the odd man out in the competition for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job. 

It remains to be seen how Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski will divide reps between Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-round choice Shedeur Sanders leading up to Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. For a piece published on Thursday, Barry McBride of the Orange and Brown Report indicated Pickett could spend the first few weeks of August battling for a spot on the Browns' Week 1 roster. 

"Pickett seems to me like someone who will need to stand out significantly in camp to justify his presence on the team," McBride explained. "He's trapped between Flacco's successful history with the Browns and the potentially high ceilings of the rookies, which need to be explored in 2025. The Browns need to learn what they have in Gabriel and Sanders, and the only way to do that is regular-season action."

McBride was referencing how Flacco won four of five regular-season starts to guide the 2023 Browns to the playoffs while playing in Stefanski's offense. It was previously suggested that Browns personnel "want" Pickett to win the competition, but other reporters revealed that the 27-year-old was "unremarkable" and didn't "pop" during spring workouts. 

Additionally, the Browns appear to be serious about stashing both Gabriel and Sanders on the active roster for at least the entire 2025 season. That's one reason some are convinced the Browns could trade Pickett if a team becomes interested in his services this summer. 

"I believe they will likely start experimenting with the youngsters as the season progresses and an opportunity to draft a quarterback at the top of the 2026 draft beckons," McBride added about the Browns. "I'm not sure where Pickett (who is still tradeable) fits in that scenario unless Flacco's age (40) undermines his abilities during the preseason."

Pickett has also been linked with the New Orleans Saints because New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore was his offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. As of Thursday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook listed rookie Tyler Shough as the betting favorite at -245 odds to emerge as New Orleans' Week 1 starter. 

Perhaps Moore will become interested in working with Pickett again if Shough performs well as a project for the future throughout the preseason in August.