Once the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired veteran signal-caller Russell Wilson, Kenny Pickett saw the proverbial writing on the wall. Pickett decided he no longer wanted to be in Pittsburgh.
As such, the Steelers accommodated the request — sending the 2022 first-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in a deal that raised more than a few eyebrows.
According to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, Pickett and the No. 120 pick in this year’s NFL Draft will head to Philadelphia. In return, the Steelers have landed the No. 98 Overall pick — along with two seventh-round picks in next year’s draft. Over two years with the Steelers, the former Pitt star QB had a combined 13 TDs and 13 INTs. Pickett’s QBR plummeted to 38.1 this past year — thus leading to the Steelers seeking an upgrade at the spot.
We saw glimpses of Pickett being a credible quarterback. He was largely beset by a poor scheme/playcalling, as well as the general inconsistency you’d expect with a young quarterback. The decision to land Wilson was a bit curious considering Pickett was a first-round pick only two years prior.
Clearly, the Steelers had reservations over whether he’d be ‘the man’ moving forward. With Pickett gone and Wilson now in tow on a short-term deal, one has to wonder if the Steelers plan on selecting a quarterback in the upcoming draft — perhaps targeting one of Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr.
As for the Eagles, landing Pickett for little was a smart move. He can take his time in developing behind Jalen Hurts. It’s a calculated gamble by Philly, but one that makes sense on the surface.
