Diontae Johnson identifies Kenny Pickett as favorite in Browns QB battle
The Cleveland Browns are hosting a wide-open quarterback competition for the 2025 NFL season.
The team's newest wide-out, Diontae Johnson, believes an early favorite emerged in the four-man race during minicamp.
"I think they are going to roll with Kenny [Pickett] for right now," Johnson said during an appearance on the "Sports and Suits" podcast. "I've been seeing Kenny going like right now with the ones. Then Joe [Flacco] will come in."
The Browns acquired Pickett in an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, who acquired Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick in the deal. It marked the second consecutive offseason during which Pickett was traded, as the 2022 first-round pick was dealt from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Eagles in 2024.
Pickett served as the backup behind Jalen Hurts during his lone season in Philadelphia. He played sparingly, winning his lone start while completing 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Pickett saw action in the Eagles' 40-22 blowout win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, failing to complete his only pass and taking a knee three times to seal the victory.
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Johnson – who played with Pickett in Pittsburgh – thinks that recent experience with a Super Bowl-winning team could aid the 27-year-old as he looks to establish himself as an NFL starter.
"I think they are probably going to roll with him just to see like coming off the season – he was with Philly and having a Super Bowl," Johnson said. "So, I think they are going to stick with him through the preseason. Then, you know, they can live with what Joe comes and brings to the table."
Johnson didn't provide much information on where rookie draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders fall in Cleveland's current pecking order. Generally, the soon-to-be 29-year-old is trying not to focus too much on Cleveland's quarterback battle.
Instead, he is simply trying to re-establish himself as a top NFL receiver after he played for three different teams in 2024 and was cut by the Baltimore Ravens after refusing to play in a game because of the cold.
"I just want to attack every day one day at a time," Johnson said. "Not try to think too much about what's ahead and just be where my feet are because if I do that, I feel like I'm going to be pressing."
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