Browns just made their Kenny Pickett starting QB decision with second-round NFL Draft picks

The Cleveland Browns plan to start Kenny Pickett at quarterback in 2025. How do we know? Look at what they did at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft second round with Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough all on the board as quarterbacks. Cleveland chose linebacker Carson Schwesinger at 33 overall and running back Quinshon Judkins at 36 overall.

The Browns are sticking with what they have in house. Many will wonder about Joe Flacco as a starter, but the 40-year old won't be the answer there. SN's NFL DRAFT HQ: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available Pickett, who backed up Jalen Hurts for the Super Bowl champion Eagles, is back in the AFC North after starting his career as a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He's not a star, but he's also a solid enough player to serve as a bridge in Cleveland. The Browns will have two first-round picks in 2026 (their own and Jacksonville's) and could choose to target Arch Manning or another QB in that draft. In the meantime, Pickett will get to do his best to make the Browns competitive.

Pickett is 15-10 in his NFL career as a starter. He has completed 62.4 percent of his passes with 15 TDs and 14 INTs.

The Browns will take what they can get with a solid receiving group, tight end room and running back core around Pickett. He could even develop into a long-term starting answer, although that's unlikely. But for now, Pickett looks like he'll be the guy for the Browns.

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