Cleveland Browns Trade QB Kenny Pickett to Raiders for Fifth-Round Pick

The Cleveland Browns have traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick, addressing the Raiders' urgent need for quarterback depth after Aidan O’Connell suffered a fractured wrist. Pickett, a 27-year-old former first-round pick, was acquired by the Browns in March but faced injury setbacks during training camp and preseason, limiting his participation. The trade clears space on the Browns' roster, which now carries three quarterbacks: Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders, with Flacco named the starter. Analyst Mike Tannenbaum had predicted this trade, noting the rarity of teams carrying four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and identifying Pickett as the most likely to be moved. For the Raiders, Pickett provides a valuable veteran backup to Geno Smith, who has been a workhorse but is aging and at risk of injury. The deal is seen as mutually beneficial, with the Browns gaining draft capital and the Raiders securing needed quarterback insurance.