Kenny Pickett has reportedly taken an early lead in the competition for the starting quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL season. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Pickett is described as being 'for all intents and purposes, in the lead' on the Browns' depth chart, surpassing veterans Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. This update was shared during a recent appearance by Cabot on The Rich Eisen Show.

In a notable development, Sanders is currently positioned as the fourth-string quarterback and did not receive any 11-on-11 practice reps on Wednesday. This raises questions about his readiness for the competition. Despite Flacco starting off the team's recent organized team activities (OTAs) by taking first-team reps, Pickett's emergence as a frontrunner has become a point of intrigue, especially for a team that may prioritize experience heading into Week 1.

The Browns selected both Gabriel and Sanders in the 2025 NFL draft, with Gabriel being a third-round pick and Sanders a fifth-round selection. Meanwhile, Pickett was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade involving Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft choice in March. Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Pickett had a challenging stint in Pittsburgh, finishing his two seasons there with a completion rate of 62.6 percent, 4,474 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions over 25 games. After being traded to the Eagles in March 2024, Pickett served as a backup for Jalen Hurts, contributing to a squad that ultimately secured victory in Super Bowl LIX. Following his experience with the Eagles, Pickett expressed gratitude for his time in Philadelphia, highlighting the valuable lessons learned. As the Browns continue through their offseason regimen, head coach Kevin Stefanski is expected to take his time in determining the starting quarterback for the upcoming season, but reports indicate that Pickett is off to a strong beginning in OTAs.