The former top pick of the Steelers returns to the division he learned in his first two pro seasons but will arrive to a much different set of circumstances. No longer representing a significant investment made by a club, Pickett will land in Cleveland as a candidate for the starting job in a quarterbacks room that is far from being finalized. If Cleveland selects a quarterback in April’s draft where it holds the No. 2 overall selection, and/or adds another veteran via trade or the free-agent market, Pickett will find himself in a camp competition for the job. At this point, such an scenario should be expected, but Pickett shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than an option under center.

He leaves Philadelphia as a Super Bowl champion who only saw snaps in the Eagles’ triumph because of its lopsided nature. With a finger awaiting a Super Bowl ring, Pickett will once again trade one uniform for another. This time, he’ll encounter a better opportunity to see the field.

Thompson-Robinson, meanwhile, heads to an Eagles squad that will view him as developmental project. Thompson-Robinson’s skill set matches better with Hurts than Pickett, but the UCLA product still needs reps in order to adjust to the pro game after he appeared remarkably overwhelmed by it last season. The nightmarish results from his three appearances (two starts) seemingly extinguished Cleveland’s curiosity regarding Thompson-Robinson, prompting them to ship him east in exchange for Pickett.

The Browns aren’t finished remodeling their quarterbacks room. Acquiring Pickett is just the beginning.