The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of several teams connected to hometown product Kenny Pickett, but an AFC executive gave them more reason to pause.
Given the Steelers select in at pick No. 20, there’s a good chance Pickett isn’t even available. However, Pittsburgh would trade up for the right quarterback, should he be in this draft class.
The Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky earlier this offseason. They also have Mason Rudolph behind him. But the long-term prospects at the position aren’t great right now. Could Pickett be a fit?
Dwyane Haskins’ untimely passing leaves an open slot on the depth chart. The Steelers’ concerns go beyond that, though. Replacing Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t happen overnight.
Would Pittsburgh dare take a chance on Pitt product Kenny Pickett? One AFC executive’s warning could go a long way:
“But then your concern is the arm. There’s nothing special about it. What’s he going to look like when he’s getting his ass f—ing blitzed and having to throw off-platform, and he has to win with his arm only? He’s mobile enough. He can move, he’s not lot like a statue. If you had to have a m—–f—– play right now, it’s Pickett, but he doesn’t have any goddamn upside.”
That’s harsh, to say the least.
Would the Steelers draft Kenny Pickett?
As the draft approaches, reports from every corner suggest that the Steelers are either in on Pickett, or in this case the opposite. His hand size raised some initial concerns at the NFL Combine. this will not help.
Pickett is a gifted natural athlete, but before this year he as considered a mid-round draft pick, at best. Then, the former New Jersey high school athlete went off, nearly winning the Heisman Trophy in the process.
A win-now product would benefit the Steelers in some sense — Pittsburgh has the roster capability to do just that. But Mike Tomlin and Co. would rather take on a project who could eventually rise to the Pro Bowl ranks, while allowing Trubisky to help them contend now.
If this AFC executive is right about Pickett — or if that is the consensus around the NFL — then the Steelers will stay away.
