Pitt QB Kenny Pickett: Browns 'one of the first teams I talked to' at Senior Bowl

Former Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback and projected first-round draft selection Kenny Pickett spent a portion of Tuesday's media session at the Senior Bowl defending the fact he wasn't having his hands measured at this time amid concerns among would-be employers that his alleged small hands could impact his ability to regularly protect the football at the highest level. 

Pickett unveiled an interesting development on Wednesday when, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, he said the Cleveland Browns were "one of the first teams I talked to when I got here." 

Pickett added he has thus far "enjoyed really every interview" with clubs at the Senior Bowl. The Browns, meanwhile, hold the 13th pick in this year's draft. 

Shortly after Week 18 of the 2021 season, both Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry said they "fully expect" Baker Mayfield to be Cleveland's starting quarterback for the 2022 campaign. Mayfield, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, is on track to begin the new league year next month on the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract, but there's currently no indication he's close to signing an extension with the Browns anytime soon. 

Mayfield recently underwent surgery to repair a serious injury to his non-throwing shoulder that impacted him throughout this past season, in which he ended 27th among eligible quarterbacks with an 83.1 passer rating and a 35.1 total QBR, per ESPN stats. The Browns, meanwhile, have repeatedly been linked in trade rumors with veteran signal-callers such as Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers despite comments offered by Stefanski and Berry last month. 

At this stage of the process, one couldn't blame the Browns for doing any and all homework available as it pertains to the sport's most important position.