He said it when he first joined the Cleveland Browns, and he reiterated it this weekend: Kenny Pickett intends to take the reins in his second chance at a possible starting gig.
"That's the plan, man (to start)," Pickett said Saturday during the Pitt spring game, via . "I'm not going there to hang out. I want to go play. I'm excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time."
With Deshaun Watson in danger of missing the 2025 season due to rupturing his Achilles again, Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick out of Pitt by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was initially the only healthy quarterback on the roster after Cleveland acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick.
The formula was always destined to change, and it did on Thursday when the Browns brought back veteran Joe Flacco after a one-year hiatus, introducing competition.
"I've heard nothing but great things about Joe," Pickett said. "I've been watching him since I was 10 years old. Total respect for Joe, what he's done and I'm excited to get to work with him, too."
Considering Pickett was indeed 10 years old during Flacco's rookie year with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008, the elder statesman in the Browns QB room certainly has the edge when it comes to experience.
Flacco also likely has the hearts of the Cleveland faithful after his stint with the team during the 2023 season. He started five regular-season games that campaign, going 4-1 with 1,616 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions while getting them across the finish line to reach the playoffs.
His performance in the postseason was much the same as it was in the five previous games. Flacco threw for two TDs and eclipsed 300 passing yards for a fifth straight game, but he also tossed two back-breaking INTs.
He won AP Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts.
However, it isn't as easy as simply plugging Flacco back in and seeing the same results. In his four seasons between being the Ravens' franchise QB and joining the Browns the first time, Flacco went 3-14 as a starter. He went 2-4 with the Indianapolis Colts and didn't appear to have the same spark then, either.
Pickett, meanwhile, went 7-5 in each of his two seasons starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He consistently failed to show he could elevate an offense. He averaged just 179 passing yards per game with 13 TDs and 13 INTs. Pickett then got a chance to grow on a Super Bowl-winning team with the Eagles last season, something he'll look to use as a springboard to more consistent play.
For now, he and Flacco provide Cleveland with a choice between two signal-callers who at least have starting experience.
The Browns are certain to add more QBs to the roster, whether that includes camp arms, high or low draft picks, or bringing in another veteran.
Flexibility has become necessary due to Watson's injury and major struggles when on the field, with owner Jimmy Haslam even admitting the team took a "big swing and miss" on the quarterback.
They'll presumably continue to take their swings as they have again this offseason.
Pickett, for his part, hopes to be the one who makes sure they connect.
