For the second straight offseason, quarterback Kenny Pickett has been traded.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on March 10 that the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to trade Pickett to the Cleveland Browns for fellow backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick.
Unless there’s another subsequent move, the Steelers will face Pickett twice during the 2025 NFL season.
Not that Steelers fans care. Actually, Steelers fans appeared to be looking forward to the idea of Pickett potentially starting twice for the Browns versus the Steelers this fall.
“We get to see Kenny Pickett twice a year,” a Steelers fan tweeted as a caption to a person hysterically laughing in a GIF.
“All the browns fans that laughed at us for having Kenny Pickett as QB1,” wrote another Steelers fan on X (formerly Twitter).
“Now have Kenny Pickett at QB1.”
In Cleveland, Pickett could compete with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job this fall.
“TJ Watt learning he gets to face Kenny Pickett twice a year,” wrote another Steelers fan as a caption to a person licking their lips.
Pickett faced the Steelers for the first time in the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh matchup during Dec. 2024. But Pickett served as a backup quarterback in the game. He didn’t play any snaps.
The game was also in Philadelphia. Pickett has yet to play a game in Pittsburgh since the Steelers traded him to the Eagles in March 2024.
Social Media Reacts to Kenny Pickett Trade
Steelers fans weren’t the only ones on X poking fun at the Browns acquiring Pickett.
NFL analyst Warren Sharp posted the popular video of Pickett’s tumble fumble against the Dallas Cowboys in December.
Sporting News’ Neal Coolong called Cleveland acquiring Pickett “highly comical.”
“Probably gets to back up a rookie. I can only assume he expects to start, which,” wrote Coolong with three laughing emojis.
Browns fans also appeared to be having fun with the idea of Pickett behind center in Cleveland next season.
“Kenny Pickett fits right in to this laughing stock of an organization,” tweeted a sports podcaster located in Ohio.
“Me deleting all my ‘Kenny Pickett has little hands’ tweets,” wrote a Browns fan on X to a caption of the popular GIF of senior citizens playing the slot machines at a casino.
Pickett to Finish Rookie Contract in Cleveland
Pickett will enter his fourth season in the NFL during 2024. It’s not the best sign he will also be with his third team.
Because the Steelers drafted Pickett in the first round, he has a club option included in his rookie contract. But the Browns would have to elect to pick up the fifth year of the rookie deal.
The NFL deadline to exercise fifth-year options this year is May 1. It’s highly unlikely the Browns do that with Pickett before he plays a snap.
Therefore, Pickett is probably going to enter a contract season in Cleveland this year.
In 24 starts with the Steelers, Pickett went 14-10. He also had 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while averaging 6.3 yards per pass. He registered a 62.6% completion percentage as well.
Pickett started one game for the Eagles last year. He completed 10 of 15 passes with one touchdown.
Pickett posted a 59.5% completion percentage, two touchdowns and one interception in five games overall with Philadelphia. He also had a 6.9 yards per attempt average.
