HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders have traded a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for quarterback Kenny Pickett. The 2022 first-round pick will be the backup behind Geno Smith.
The Raiders planned on Aidan O’Connell being their backup this season, but he suffered a fractured wrist in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The injury will require surgery, take six to eight weeks to recover and likely land O’Connell on injured reserve.
details of the deal pic.twitter.com/ZKIt3gFR1C
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 26, 2025
Pickett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Browns in March. He was part of a competition to become the Browns’ starting quarterback but lost his footing in the race due to a hamstring injury. After naming Joe Flacco the starter and with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in tow, Cleveland opted to trade Pickett.
Raiders vice president of player personnel Brandon Hunt and senior personnel executive Anthony Patch were both with the Eagles in 2024, so they’re familiar with Pickett from his one-year stint there as the backup behind Jalen Hurts.
When Hurts was injured against the Washington Commanders in Week 16 last season, Pickett stepped in and completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception in an Eagles loss. Pickett started the next week against the Dallas Cowboys and completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown in a blowout victory.
Those performances are proof that Pickett can step in for Smith if needed, but it’s worth remembering that the Eagles’ roster was loaded on both sides of the ball. Given the Raiders aren’t there yet, Pickett would have to carry a much larger burden with the Raiders. Plus, a fifth-round pick feels pricey when they could’ve pursued an option in free agency after roster cutdown day on Tuesday.
Instead of rolling the dice on being able to land a backup they could depend on, however, the Raiders decided to swing a trade to get their guy in Pickett. And while rookie Cam Miller is someone they view as worth developing, he’s not yet ready to play. Raiders coach Pete Carroll and his staff preferred an experienced option.
“I want somebody who’s played,” Carroll said Sunday. “A guy that’s had game experience is really huge to me. We have Cam, and Cam hasn’t played in the league much, so we’re looking for an experienced player that could help us.”
The Raiders were active on Monday beyond acquiring Pickett. A team source confirmed to The Athletic that Las Vegas had denied a trade request for receiver Jakobi Meyers, and a league source confirmed it was signing free-agent wideout Amari Cooper on a one-year deal.
The Browns now have 10 draft picks in 2026. They have two first-rounders, two fifth-rounders following the Pickett trade and two in the sixth after last week’s trade of Jowon Briggs to the New York Jets.
(Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images)