Will Browns essentially choose Pickett over Falcons’ Cousins?

People resembling Conor Orr of Sports activities Illustrated proceed to insist the Cleveland Browns ought to and can commerce for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in some unspecified time in the future this offseason.

Nevertheless, individuals who cowl the Browns are satisfied that head coach Kevin Stefanski and basic supervisor Andrew Berry are ready to function former Pittsburgh Steelers flop Kenny Pickett as their 2025 Week 1 QB1. 

For an article printed on Wednesday morning, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand echoed a earlier report and stated the membership buying and selling for Cousins “isn’t more likely to occur” earlier than or after the 2025 NFL Draft. 

“They’ve a really restricted money and wage cap price range for this roster spot,” Grossi stated in regards to the Browns. “Cousins was engaging on a minimal NFL wage…however not at a $5M+ worth. The Browns don’t wish to surrender a draft-pick asset for Cousins. OK, possibly a sixth- or seventh-rounder. However nothing greater. Cousins desires assurance he will likely be a starter. The Browns received’t give him that assurance. They made that call once they traded for Kenny Pickett, whom the Browns think about a viable competitor for a starter’s function.”

The Browns despatched backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round draft choose to the Philadelphia Eagles for Pickett, a 2022 first-round alternative who spent his first two professional seasons with the Steelers earlier than they gave up on him. 

Pickett went 14-10 as a starter with Pittsburgh, however his remaining acts as a member of that membership included allegedly refusing to decorate as an emergency third quarterback when Mason Rudolph was beginning and asking to be traded after the Steelers signed Russell Wilson in March 2024. 

In the meantime, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Supplier beforehand reported that the Falcons desire a shopping for crew “to tackle a large chunk” of Cousins’ wage. His contract has a full no-trade clause, and he might block a transfer to a membership not prepared to call him its Week 1 starter. 

The Browns might move on making Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders the second total choose of this 12 months’s draft. They might, nonetheless, seize a undertaking for the longer term resembling Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Louisville’s Tyler Shough later within the player-selection course of. 

“I feel Browns followers understandably are low on Pickett due to his two years with the Steelers,” Grossi added. “I additionally suppose Pickett is a extra mature participant now, and the Browns’ offense will likely be better-suited to his expertise than no matter they have been attempting to do on offense in Pittsburgh in 2022 and 2023.”

Cousins could also be broken items at this stage of his profession, and it seems like folks inside the Browns critically consider Pickett has the upper ceiling of the 2 gamers. Maybe Stefanski thinks he can earn NFL Coach of the 12 months Award honors for the third time by serving to Pickett change into a reliable starter earlier than the primary Sunday of September arrives.