Kenny Pickett appears to have gained an early advantage in the competition for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback position for the upcoming 2025 season. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Moneyline, Pickett is currently considered to be 'in the lead' ahead of fellow quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel.

During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Cabot noted that Sanders has been relegated to the fourth-team quarterback role and did not receive any 11-on-11 practice reps on Wednesday. This context adds an intriguing layer to the quarterback battle as Pickett and Flacco, who had initially taken first-team reps during Wednesday's Organized Team Activities (OTAs), appear to be the frontrunners for the starting role if the Browns are looking for an experienced option.

The Browns acquired Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick in March 2024. Previously, Pickett was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but had a challenging tenure there, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 4,474 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over 25 games. Reflecting on his time with the Eagles—who went on to win Super Bowl LIX—Pickett expressed gratitude for the experience, highlighting the insights gained that he believes will enhance his future performance.

While it is likely that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will not make a final decision regarding the Week 1 starting quarterback position imminently, reports indicate that Pickett has made a compelling early impression during OTAs.