Eagles trading Kenny Pickett to Browns for pick and QB

According to a source, the Eagles say goodbye to their backup quarterback.

By Dave Zangaro • Published March 10, 2025

 

The Eagles are trading Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns, a league source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia on Monday.

In the trade, the Eagles are getting back a 2025 fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the trade.

Pickett, 26, spent just one season with the Eagles, who traded to acquire him last March. The Eagles got Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick for a 2024 third-round pick a year ago.

The Eagles will save $2.6 million in cap space by trading Pickett, according to OverTheCap. Pickett is entering the final year of his rookie contract as a first-round pick.

In his one season with the Eagles, Pickett played in five games and started one (a win over the Cowboys in Week 17). He completed 59.5% of his passes for 291 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. With the Eagles up big in Super Bowl LIX, Pickett got a chance to finish the game.

The Eagles will now have Tanner McKee and Thompson-Robinson in their quarterback room behind starter and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts.

Thompson-Robinson was a fourth-round pick out of UCLA in 2023 and has some NFL experience, although it hasn’t gone very well. He has played in 15 games with 5 starts. He has completed 52.6% of his passes with 1 touchdown and 10 interceptions in his career.

While McKee doesn’t have nearly as much experience as Thompson-Robinson, the 2023 sixth-round pick was very impressive when given the chance to play in 2024. McKee in just two games completed 66.7% of his passes for 323 yards with 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

Here’s an updated look at the Eagles’ draft picks in 2025 after the trade:

Round 1-32 (own pick)
Round 2-64 (own pick)
Round 3-96
Round 4 (from Lions)
Round 5 (from Browns)
Round 5 (from Texans)
Round 5 (from Commanders)
Round 5 (own pick) 

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-trading-kenny-pickett-to-browns-for-pick-and-qb-source-nfl-free-agency-2025-season/653527/

What and when is Reddicks compensation? Is that next year?

Basically we got a fifth right? Because DTR is going to be the #3 at best and he may not even make the roster.

29 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Basically we got a fifth right? Because DTR is going to be the #3 at best and he may not even make the roster.

I doubt anything is guaranteed with DTR other than a chance to compete for a roster spot.  This was a move to grab another pick and create cap space (we shed the full $2.6M of Pickett’s salary (no dead money) and moved the better QB up to QB2.  But we do take on the $1.1M contract for DTR so net cap gain is $1.5M.

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

I doubt anything is guaranteed with DTR other than a chance to compete for a roster spot.  This was a move to grab another pick and create cap space (we shed the full $2.6M of Pickett’s salary (no dead money) and moved the better QB up to QB2.  But we do take on the $1.1M contract for DTR so net cap gain is $1.5M.

I guess every little helps right… It’s not nothing that we had a net cap gain of $1.5M whilst getting a 5th in return.

That Tanner McKee is QB#2 is the real roster improvement.

Like taking candy from a baby.  Air Tanner ready for takeoff.  Please fasten your seatbelts and do not move about the cabin until the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign.

So we basically just got a 5th because DTR is horrible...

On 3/11/2025 at 8:00 AM, Breeze 44 said:

What and when is Reddicks compensation? Is that next year?

We traded him for a conditional 3rd in 2026.  He didn't meet the conditions to elevate to a 2nd so we'll have that extra 3rd next year.  

On 3/13/2025 at 8:42 AM, Breeze 44 said:

So we basically just got a 5th because DTR is horrible...

Exactly. Tanner is the #2 QB now, and they can get a #3 anywhere. I'd be shocked if DTR makes the team. 

On 3/15/2025 at 5:43 PM, LacesOut said:

Exactly. Tanner is the #2 QB now, and they can get a #3 anywhere. I'd be shocked if DTR makes the team. 

Same! I think the only thing DTR has going for him is that he’s fairly mobile… But McKee is absolutely the more talented QB.