The Raiders add Pickett to the quarterback room, needing a backup quarterback after Aidan O’Connell fractured his wrist in the preseason. Browns GM Andrew Berry had expressed his intent to keep four quarterbacks on the roster, it was always going to be tough to justify the roster spots. Instead, opportunity came knocking from the Raiders and the Browns get a fifth-rounder for their troubles. Pickett had been dealing with a hamstring injury in the preseason, but the Raiders seem to believe he will be ready for Week 1. Meanwhile, this all but guarantees the Browns will be keeping Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as backups.

Stefanski also added that he is still working through who will back up Joe Flacco to start the season, potentially opening the door for one of the rookies to serve as the team’s top backup for Week 1. Pickett was originally in the running for the starting role for the Browns but an ill timed hamstring injury derailed those plans.

It seems that preseason Week 3 will set up as a split between Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, with Sanders back throwing in individual drills. Pickett has not attempted a pass in any preseason game this year and that might make him a tough trade target for teams across the league, perhaps increasing the chances the Browns carry four quarterbacks at the start of the season.

Joe Flacco remains the team’s primary quarterback in first-team drills, though Dillon Gabriel has taken some first-team snaps. Shedeur Sanders is the only one of the bunch who has not yet graduated beyond participating with the second-team offense.