The
Cleveland Browns
welcome a new quarterback in the form of former first-round draft choice Kenny Pickett.
To everyone’s surprise, the Browns have acquired a former
Pittsburgh Steelers
quarterback, Kenny Pickett, traded away Dorian Thompson-Robinson along with a 2025 fifth-round pick to the
Philadelphia Eagles
per Ian Rapoport
. Pickett is expected to slot in as a backup, with Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reporting that the Browns are still
anticipated to bring aboard an experienced player and a newcomer to the quarterback position.
It’s not simply about enhancing the roster; it’s about recruiting someone who has started games in the NFL before.
But who
is
What lies beyond the headlines for Kenny Pickett?
He has emerged victorious over Tom Brady.
This victory wasn’t just against one of the best players ever; it also marked Kenny’s first NFL win in his second professional start. The previous week, he had suffered a loss.
Buffalo Bills
38-3, however, when facing off against the
Buccaneers
He emerged victorious, guiding the team to a 20-18 win.
The NCAA modified the rulebook due to his influence.
In the 2021 ACC Championship game, Kenny Pickett’s notorious fake slide against Wake Forest became more than just an iconic play—it led to a substantial amendment in NCAA rules. This incident ignited immediate debate because the NCAA guidelines at that time were unclear about whether a quarterback was permitted to feign sliding. The confusion arose due to a specific rule intended to safeguard quarterbacks when they initiated a proper slide, rendering them essentially vulnerable during this action.
The Pickett play took advantage of an ambiguity in the rules, highlighting the necessity for clearer guidelines. This created significant controversy, prompting a rapid reaction from the NCAA. Acknowledging concerns over athlete safety and the misuse of regulations, the NCAA Football Rules Committee met and introduced a revised rule. According to this updated rule, after a quarterback starts a sliding motion, they are prohibited from getting back up and continuing with the play.
Records were shattered at Pitt
Kenny Pickett’s time with the University of Pittsburgh was truly remarkable. He transformed the school’s records, ending his career as the top passer in nearly every category including most passing yards (12,303), completed passes (1,045), overall offense (13,112), total touchdowns (102), and touchdown passes (81).
His guidance led to a remarkable 2021 season, during which he steered Pitt to win the ACC Championship and achieved their highest number of victories with eleven games won—a feat unmatched since 1976. This outstanding achievement not only secured for him the title of ACC Offensive Player of the Year but also brought him nationwide attention as he placed third in the Heisman Trophy voting, following closely after Bryce Young and Aidan Hutchinson.
Kenny wears two gloves
When assessing quarterbacks, hand size, alongside height, stands out as one of the key inherent physical attributes that evaluators consider. Similar to Teddy Bridgewater, Kenny Pickett also opts to wear gloves during games. Typically, an NFL quarterback’s hands measure around 9.7 inches.
At 9.25 inches, Bridgewater’s hand size appeared relatively modest during that era. In contrast, Pickett recorded an unsettling measurement of only 8.5 inches at the 2022 combine. Despite concerns about fumbling associated with such hand sizes among quarterbacks, Pickett has demonstrated impressive ball security by fumbling merely seven times across his 30-game professional career.
He is finally leaving Pennsylvania
Following eight years of football in Pennsylvania, Kenny Pickett’s tenure in the Keystone State has ended. From the college battlefields of the
Pitt Panthers
to the intense scrutiny of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickett’s journey through the state has been a rollercoaster. He battled for five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, etching his name into the record books and becoming a hometown hero.
Then he transitioned to the NFL, shouldering the weight of a storied franchise as the Steelers’ quarterback. Now, after a one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles as their backup quarterback on the route to their Super Bowl victory, he is leaving the nest for the Midwest and the Cleveland Browns.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire:
Browns: 5 insights into the new QB Kenny Pickett
