He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Originally recruited by Jim Lambright at Washington, Pickett accepted a scholarship from new head coach Rick Neuheisel to play for the Huskies.

[2][3] As a true freshman at Washington in 1999, Pickett was the backup to starter Marques Tuiasosopo and saw limited action; he was granted a medical redshirt for an ailing back in the last half of the season.

He was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate and written up in Sports Illustrated, but a shoulder injury that year hurt his chances.

[6] Pickett started the 2005 season as the fourth-string quarterback, but became the starter after Tim Rattay was traded, and Alex Smith and Ken Dorsey were injured.

Pickett made his first CFL game appearance on September 12, 2008, against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Rogers Centre in relief of starting quarterback Kerry Joseph.

[8][9] On August 11, 2009, head coach Bart Andrus named Cody Pickett as the starting quarterback for the team's next game, against the B.C.