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BEREA — The experience Kenny Pickett gained during his two years of essentially being the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback was invaluable.
There was a value for Pickett in essentially watching from the sideline last season as the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, beyond getting a Super Bowl ring. It's something he's hoping he was able to bring with him when he was traded in March to the Browns.
“I'm extremely grateful for my time in Philly," Pickett said after the Browns' second OTA on Wednesday, May 28. "I think I was shown how it's supposed to be done really from the top down. So when you get a chance to see what it's supposed to look like and how it should look on a day-to-day basis, not just on Sundays, I think it'll pay dividends for me in the future.”
What that future exactly looks like for Pickett in Cleveland is still uncertain. He's embroiled in a four-way competition to be the Browns' opening-day starter with 18-year veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Three seasons ago, Pickett was in a somewhat smaller competition with veterans Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph after the Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2022 draft. Trubisky won the battle, although Pickett ultimately took over the starting role five games into the season.
Pickett held that role for 14 games before an ankle injury and the acquisition of Russell Wilson ended his stay in Pittsburgh. It started the Philadelphia chapter of his story, which was different in some regards — Jalen Hurts was firmly entrenched as the starter — but the same in one major way.
“I just always approached every day as if I'm the starter, no matter where I was on the depth chart," Pickett said. "Even when I was in Philly, I would prepare as if I was a starter. You never know when that opportunity was going to be to go play, and you want to be as prepared as you can be. So I'm kind of having the same mindset that I've always had since college of coming in, preparing [like] I'm the guy. So whatever happens, it's just another day. I always have that same mindset."
That approach is serving Pickett well in the latest chapter of his still-young NFL career. He finds himself back where he was as a rookie, only this time he's in the role of one of the experienced quarterbacks trying to get the job.
The journey between those two competitions has, in some ways, allowed him to rid himself the shackles of expectation that come from being a quarterback who was drafted by the team he's with, especially in the first round. Gabriel and Sanders, even though they were third- and fifth-round picks, carry more of that burden in this instance.
Still, Pickett has his own personal expectations to consider as well. Those expectations — whether it was as the Steelers' "quarterback of the future," the Eagles' backup or a competitor to be the Browns' starter — haven't changed regardless of role.
"I feel like I'm pretty hard on myself to be as best as I can be," Pickett said. "So, I try to always not worry about the outside opinion and just hold myself to a really high standard of how I want to play quarterback and how I want to play football. So, I don't think my mindset will change. Just excited to have this opportunity, really grateful to be here and it's been a lot of fun so far."
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kenny Pickett brings variety of past experiences into Browns QB battle
Continue reading...
There was a value for Pickett in essentially watching from the sideline last season as the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, beyond getting a Super Bowl ring. It's something he's hoping he was able to bring with him when he was traded in March to the Browns.
“I'm extremely grateful for my time in Philly," Pickett said after the Browns' second OTA on Wednesday, May 28. "I think I was shown how it's supposed to be done really from the top down. So when you get a chance to see what it's supposed to look like and how it should look on a day-to-day basis, not just on Sundays, I think it'll pay dividends for me in the future.”
What that future exactly looks like for Pickett in Cleveland is still uncertain. He's embroiled in a four-way competition to be the Browns' opening-day starter with 18-year veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Three seasons ago, Pickett was in a somewhat smaller competition with veterans Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph after the Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2022 draft. Trubisky won the battle, although Pickett ultimately took over the starting role five games into the season.
Pickett held that role for 14 games before an ankle injury and the acquisition of Russell Wilson ended his stay in Pittsburgh. It started the Philadelphia chapter of his story, which was different in some regards — Jalen Hurts was firmly entrenched as the starter — but the same in one major way.
“I just always approached every day as if I'm the starter, no matter where I was on the depth chart," Pickett said. "Even when I was in Philly, I would prepare as if I was a starter. You never know when that opportunity was going to be to go play, and you want to be as prepared as you can be. So I'm kind of having the same mindset that I've always had since college of coming in, preparing [like] I'm the guy. So whatever happens, it's just another day. I always have that same mindset."
That approach is serving Pickett well in the latest chapter of his still-young NFL career. He finds himself back where he was as a rookie, only this time he's in the role of one of the experienced quarterbacks trying to get the job.
The journey between those two competitions has, in some ways, allowed him to rid himself the shackles of expectation that come from being a quarterback who was drafted by the team he's with, especially in the first round. Gabriel and Sanders, even though they were third- and fifth-round picks, carry more of that burden in this instance.
Still, Pickett has his own personal expectations to consider as well. Those expectations — whether it was as the Steelers' "quarterback of the future," the Eagles' backup or a competitor to be the Browns' starter — haven't changed regardless of role.
"I feel like I'm pretty hard on myself to be as best as I can be," Pickett said. "So, I try to always not worry about the outside opinion and just hold myself to a really high standard of how I want to play quarterback and how I want to play football. So, I don't think my mindset will change. Just excited to have this opportunity, really grateful to be here and it's been a lot of fun so far."
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kenny Pickett brings variety of past experiences into Browns QB battle
Continue reading...
