The Pittsburgh Steelers selected quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, hoping he would become the franchise's future. Initially, Pickett showed promise, impressing fans with his preseason performance and delivering big plays in crucial moments.
However, during his two seasons with Pittsburgh, Pickett struggled to fully establish himself as the franchise's cornerstone. While he managed to deliver in clutch situations and contribute to victories, he had difficulty maintaining consistent productivity and leading the Steelers' offense. Not all of Pickett's shortcomings were his fault; he played in a historically poor system under former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. This left fans questioning whether the Steelers were winning because of Pickett or despite him. Over his two years, Pickett threw 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, leading Pittsburgh to a 14-10 record as their quarterback.
In the offseason, Pittsburgh signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum. This move reportedly upset Pickett, leading him to request a trade. The Steelers granted his wish and traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles. On Thursday, Steelers veteran captain Cam Heyward engaged with fans on social media, addressing the truth behind Pickett's departure and sharing his simple feelings about the situation.
Heyward is a leader and a veteran who knows exactly how to handle difficult questions. His response about his former quarterback was brief and to the point. He refused to say anything negative about Pickett, instead revealing that he still has faith in Pickett and his future in the league.
Pickett left Pittsburgh on sour terms, splitting the fan base. Some fans defended him, while many were excited to see his time in Pittsburgh end. Pickett showed glimpses of potential and occasionally wowed fans, but he struggled to fully convince them that he was the future of the team.
The most concerning aspect of Pickett's tenure was Pittsburgh's hope that bringing in Wilson to compete for the job would ignite a fire in him. Instead, it had the opposite effect, and he requested a trade. This was the final straw for the Steelers, who had seen enough of Pickett wilting in the face of adversity. Right or wrong, Pickett did not want to compete for the job; he believed he deserved to be the starter heading into 2024 and should not have to compete for it.
It's quite bold for a young quarterback to feel entitled to a starting quarterback job in the NFL. The league is extremely competitive, and keeping a job is tough, especially if you’re not performing. While Pickett gets the benefit of the doubt due to the poor system he played in, Pittsburgh still felt it necessary to bring in true competition at the position.
Steelers' Kenny Pickett Was Thriving After Matt Canada Was Fired
Pickett's exit was a sad end to what had seemed like a promising career in the city where he played college football. Coming from Pitt, many Steelers fans had watched him dominate in college in the same stadium. It seemed like a match made in heaven.
However, Pickett's journey with the Steelers underscores the challenging nature of the NFL. After the Steelers fired Canada, Pickett had his best game of his young career, or at least his most efficient. He was on track for another solid performance before an injury sidelined him, and he never played another game for the Steelers.
Had Pickett not gotten injured and continued his post-Canada performance, the Steelers likely wouldn’t have changed their quarterback situation as they did. When Mason Rudolph took over, Pickett never got his job back. Despite this, Heyward still has faith in Pickett's future. Now, Pickett will serve as a backup to Jalen Hurts with the Eagles. Steelers fans will be watching closely to see if moving on from him so quickly was the right decision.
