Browns' Kenny Pickett injury predicted to end in surprise Week 1 QB starter for Cleveland

Kenny Pickett hurt his hamstring, providing the latest twist in the Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition.

Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel should all see more reps in the week ahead as Pickett heals up.

But it doesn't necessarily mean what you think it would about who will start at QB in Week 1 for the Browns against the Bengals.

ESPN's NFL insider Dan Graziano made a prediction in a Monday morning article about who would take the first snap of the season for the Browns, and he chose Pickett.

"I'm sure that's not the most popular choice among the fan base, but as one league executive pointed out to me, he's the one of these four the Browns tried the hardest to get," Graziano writes. "They acquired him in early March, knowing Watson was a long shot to play this season and before they knew whether they would bring back Flacco or select a single quarterback -- let alone two -- in the draft. There was a time this offseason when Pickett -- who now has a hamstring injury -- was the only healthy quarterback on the roster. If he performs well enough in camp and in the preseason, don't be surprised if he gets first crack at this thing."

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Graziano does add on a further prediction involving Sanders and Gabriel.

"I'd expect at least one of the rookies to start this season so the Browns can figure out what they have in them before taking two first-round picks into the 2026 draft," he writes.

Pickett, at 26 years old, still has a real NFL future. He was a first-round pick once. He showed flashes of talent in his Steelers days and had a winning record there.

He likely has goals of still being an NFL starter for years to come. Maybe that could even be in Cleveland.

Graziano's prediction actually makes a lot of sense. It will depend on Pickett healing up from this hamstring problem quickly, though.

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