Raiders reportedly trading for Browns QB Kenny Pickett after Aidan O'Connell's wrist injury

Kenny Pickett is headed to Las Vegas.

Pickett, after being thrust into a highly-publicized four-man battle for the starting job in Cleveland, was dealt to the Raiders on Monday night, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In exchange, the Browns will receive a future sixth round draft pick from the Raiders.

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The Raiders lost backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell to a fractured wrist in their preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. O’Connell is expected to miss between six to eight weeks recovering, which left a big gap on the Raiders’ depth chart behind starter Geno Smith. Pickett will very likely step into the backup role right away in Las Vegas.

Pickett has been in a four-man race for the starting job in Cleveland this fall, though he was set back briefly due to an early hamstring injury he sustained in training camp. The Browns have since tabbed veteran Joe Flacco as their starter for their season opener on Sept. 7, with Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders filling in behind him on the depth chart.

The Browns traded for Pickett this past offseason, and then selected Gabriel and Sanders in the third and fifth rounds of the NFL Draft, respectively. Sanders’ slide out of the first round into the third day of the draft was one of the biggest stories from that weekend in April, and he's drawn plenty of attention throughout the preseason.

Pickett, who got his start with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, has been on the move constantly in recent years. After two seasons with the Steelers, he spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles and was with the team amid their Super Bowl run. He is still on his initial rookie contract, but has now been traded three times entering his fourth season in the league.

The Raiders went just 4-13 last season, and have since hired Pete Carroll to take over as their next head coach. They will open the season on Sept. 7 against the New England Patriots.

This post will be updated with more information shortly.