Cleveland Browns Won't Exercise QB Kenny Pickett's Option, Ending His Contract
Monday, Apr 28, 2025 6:37 pm ET
1min read The Cleveland Browns will not exercise quarterback Kenny Pickett's fifth-year club option, which would have been worth $22.117 million. Pickett, 26, will compete with veteran Joe Flacco and 2025 draft picks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel for the starting quarterback position.
The Cleveland Browns have taken a significant step in shaping their quarterback competition for the 2025 season by declining to exercise Kenny Pickett's fifth-year club option. The decision, announced on April 29, 2025, means Pickett will become a free agent after the 2025 season, joining a crowded quarterback room that includes veteran Joe Flacco and the 2025 draft picks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel [1].The Browns' decision to let Pickett's option expire comes as they continue to revamp their quarterback room, following Deshaun Watson's potential season-long absence due to a re-injured Achilles [1]. The team's selection of Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round and Dillon Gabriel in the third round has added further depth to their quarterback situation.
Pickett, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles, has been vocal about his desire to be the starter. However, his odds of winning the starting job are currently lower than those of Shedeur Sanders, who is the second favorite according to DraftKings betting odds [2]. The odds place Shedeur Sanders at +175, compared to Pickett's -110, indicating a higher perceived risk for Shedeur Sanders but a potentially higher reward for those who bet on him.
The Browns' quarterback room is now one of the most competitive in the NFL, with Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders all vying for the starting position. The team's decision to decline Pickett's option and the ongoing draft process will undoubtedly shape the dynamics of their quarterback competition in the coming months.
References:
[1] https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/browns-draft-shedeur-sanders-after-deion-sanders-threw-shade-at-joe-flacco-after-team-passed-on-son-round-1/
[2] https://www.marca.com/en/nfl/cleveland-browns/2025/04/28/680edf1e268e3eae5c8b45a1.html
