Cleveland, OH – July 7, 2025
He once wore midnight green, backing up one of the league’s brightest stars. Now, he’s staring down the toughest fight of his career — in a city where second chances are rare and time runs short.
The clock is ticking for former Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett, and training camp hasn’t even started.
After a quiet stint in Philadelphia that saw him appear in just five games — throwing for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception — Pickett now finds himself on the Cleveland Browns’ depth chart. But this isn’t a fresh start. It’s a final audition. Competing with veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, Pickett isn’t just fighting for a job. He’s fighting for relevance.
This isn’t about who wins camp drills. It’s about survival. Pickett’s contract expires after this season, and if he doesn’t secure the starting job out of camp, he may never get the chance to prove he belongs in the league again. NFL windows don’t open twice — and Cleveland’s front office isn’t waiting around. With Jacksonville’s 2026 first-round pick in hand and a loaded quarterback draft class looming, the writing is already on the wall: deliver now or disappear later.
It’s a brutal contrast to the situation Pickett left behind. In Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts continues to thrive, solidifying himself as the face of a franchise built to contend every year. Hurts was once the second-rounder with something to prove. Now, he’s the reason Eagles fans sleep easy at night.
Pickett, meanwhile, is out of the spotlight — but squarely in the crosshairs. The Browns are loaded with expectation, and patience is running thin. For Kenny Pickett, this isn’t just another training camp.
It’s the edge of the cliff.
Stay tuned to ESPN.
