Reports: Browns won't exercise QB Kenny Pickett's option

Entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract, quarterback Kenny Pickett won't have his fifth-year club option picked up by the Cleveland Browns, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.

Pickett, 26, who will make $2.623 million this coming season, is set to compete with veteran Joe Flacco and 2025 draft picks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, with Deshaun Watson out indefinitely with a right Achilles tendon injury.

Pickett's fifth-year club option would be worth $22.117 million, per Cleveland.com.

A first-round pick (20th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last March and spent the season as Jalen Hurts' backup. In five games (one start), Pickett completed 25 of 42 passes (59.5 percent) for 291 yards, two TDs and one interception.

In three seasons with the Steelers (2022-23) and Eagles, Pickett has 471 completions in 755 attempts (62.4 percent) for 4,765 yards, 15 TDs and 14 interceptions. He went 14-10 as a starter with Pittsburgh, then won his lone start of 2024 in place of an injured Hurts en route to a Super Bowl championship.

--Field Level Media