Kenny Pickett Puts Speed On Display While Racing Browns DB In Hopes To Stake Claim On QB1 Job

Kenny Pickett runs onto the field for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Kenny Pickett is looking to make an impact with his third NFL team in four professional seasons. The passer is hoping to land the keys to the Cleveland Browns offense after being picked up by the organization this offseason.

Pickett put his speed and athleticism on full display this week in training camp. He dusted teammate Trey Dean in a shuttle race.

Pickett is gearing up for his second stint in the AFC North after initially being selected with a first-round draft pick by the Steelers. After two seasons in Pittsburgh, he was traded to crosstown rival Philadelphia where he won a Super Bowl.

The signal caller was a deadly threat as a runner in college. He amassed over 800 yards and scored 20 touchdowns with the Pitt Panthers over a five-year career. Heck, he even forced the NCAA into a rule change with his elusiveness and smarts as a ball carrier.

 

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Those abilities were very visible in his NFL debut season as he racked up 237 rushing yards and three scores across 12 starts. That production has dipped over his last two seasons, but the speed remains!

Kenny Pickett received criticism at the NFL Combine over his measurables ahead of his rookie season. Most of those qualms revolved around his tiny hands.

Those hands have caused some concern throughout his professional career, but his quickness has never let him down. Pickett recorded one of the faster QB 40-yard dash times in the 2022 draft class at 4.73 seconds. He also ran a 4.29-second 20-yard shuttle.

This week, he showed that he still possesses a burst by beating a Browns teammate in a practice race.

 

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His competitor was Trey Dean, a safety out of the University of Georgia. The defensive back was no match for the passer as Pickett blew by Dean at the finish line.

Kenny Pickett is now looking to take advantage of his opportunity in an uncertain QB room. Cleveland currently boasts a group that includes Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders.

Flacco remains the favorite to win the job as Watson recovers from an Achilles injury, but Pickett is doing his best to stake a claim to the throne this offseason.