Sources: Eagles trading QB Pickett to Browns

The Browns are trading for Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett, sending Philadelphia a 2025 fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

The Browns entered free agency expected to add at least one veteran passer with Deshaun Watson expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season after re-tearing his right Achilles tendon. But with limited salary cap space — the Browns entered Monday with about $13 million in cap space, according to the Roster Management System — Cleveland was likely to pursue cheaper options, despite general manager Andrew Berry telling reporters the team’s cash and cap situation would not prohibit it from making moves if the right opportunity presented itself.

With Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round pick and the only other quarterback under contract for the 2025 season, sent to Philadelphia in the deal, another addition is likely.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler previously reported that Daniel Jones, Carson Wentz and Kirk Cousins, if the latter is released, are expected to be on the Browns’ radar.

Pickett, who turns 27 in June, is a former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers who was selected 20th overall in the 2022 NFL draft. In two years with the Steelers, Pickett went 14-10 as a starter and completed 62.6% of his attempts for 4,474 yards. He also threw 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. The Steelers traded Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Eagles for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks last March.

In his lone season with the Super Bowl-winning Eagles, Pickett served as Jalen Hurts‘ backup and made one start. Last season, he completed 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Pickett is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Thompson-Robinson, 25, started five games in two seasons with the Browns. He went 1-4 as a starter, completing 121 of 230 passes (52.6%) for 880 yards, one touchdown and 10 interceptions. He also ran 187 yards on 35 carries.

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