Kenny Pickett has emerged as a frontrunner in the Cleveland Browns' ongoing competition for the starting quarterback position leading into the 2025 season. According to reports from Mary Kay Cabot of Moneyline, Pickett is currently positioned as the leading candidate over fellow competitors Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. This assessment was shared during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, where it was noted that Sanders, who is presently listed as the fourth-string quarterback for the Browns, did not participate in any 11-on-11 drills during a recent practice session.

The revelation of Pickett's early advantage in the quarterback race comes as a surprise, particularly given that Flacco began Wednesday's organized team activities by receiving first-team reps under center. Should the Browns seek an experienced quarterback for their Week 1 lineup, both Pickett and Flacco are considered to have an upper hand over the other contenders. The team selected Gabriel and Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, utilizing third and fifth-round picks, respectively. Pickett's journey to the Browns includes his trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, which involved sending Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft choice to the Eagles in March.

Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickett faced challenges in his tenure with Pittsburgh, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 4,474 yards, tallying 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions across 25 games. After a trade to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2024, he took on a backup role behind Jalen Hurts, participating in a successful season for the Eagles that culminated in victory at Super Bowl LIX. Reflecting on his time with the Eagles, Pickett expressed gratitude for the experience, emphasizing the valuable lessons learned regarding football operations and execution, which he anticipates will benefit him moving forward. While Coach Kevin Stefanski is not expected to make a decision regarding the starting quarterback position for some time, reports suggest that Pickett is off to a promising start during organized team activities.