Cleveland Browns announce quarterback has been traded to NFL rival just days after Shedeur Sanders preseason struggles

THE Cleveland Browns continue to make significant changes to their roster with another quarterback axed ahead of the 2025 season.

A mass exodus of players continues as general manager Andrew Berry brings his roster closer to the 53-man allowance.

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Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel run a drill in camp while Kenny Pickett watches on[/caption]

AP

Kenny Pickett has been traded to the Las Vegas Raiders[/caption]

Kenny Pickett, 27, has been traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving the Browns without a single competitive appearance.

The move leaves Cleveland with three quarterbacks – Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

Sanders, 23, struggled in his final preseason outing for the Browns, being sacked five times in one game.

Despite this, the Browns clung on for a 19-17 victory against the Los
Angeles Rams on Saturday.

The Raiders have become the Pickett’s fourth NFL franchise in as many seasons.

Pickett was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of
the 2022 NFL Draft, requesting a trade following Russell Wilson’s arrival from the Denver Broncos.

His trade to the Philadelphia Eagles saw Pickett named as the backup to Jalen Hurts.

Pickett made his debut midway through the 2024 season in a 28-3
victory against the New York Giants on October 20.

A concussion for Hurts towards the end of the season saw Pickett’s role increase.

He played against the Washington Commanders on December 22 and the Dallas Cowboys on December 29.

Pickett also finished the Super Bowl for the Eagles as they downed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans, Louisiana in February.

Pickett’s brief spell at the Browns has come to a premature end as he
links up with the Raiders.

The 27-year-old moved to Cleveland earlier this year but is already on his way.

The Raiders find themselves at a crossroads after Aidan O’Connell’s injury.

O’Connell fractured his wrist during a 28-10 loss to the Arizona
Cardinals and is expected to be out for between six to eight weeks.

This likely leaves Pickett as the new backup to Geno Smith.

Smith, is another recent arrival in Las Vegas, having spent the past six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

This quarterback battle will set the tone for the Raiders’ season as they open against the New England Patriots on September 7th.

Cleveland, meanwhile, named Flacco, 40, as their starter.

Gabriel and Sanders were left in a battle to be he backup.