Browns Decline Kenny Pickett's Fifth-Year Option Amid QB Competition

The Cleveland Browns have decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Kenny Pickett's contract, which would have cost the team over $22 million for the 2026 season. Pickett, acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, will instead play the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, earning $2.6 million. This decision comes as the Browns bolster their quarterback room by drafting rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and signing veteran Joe Flacco, setting up an open competition for the starting job. Pickett, who started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and briefly backed up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, has expressed determination to compete for the starting role in Cleveland. Odds currently favor him as the Week 1 starter, though the presence of Flacco and the two rookies adds uncertainty to the quarterback hierarchy. With Deshaun Watson sidelined due to injury, the Browns' quarterback battle is expected to be closely watched during training camp.