The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-6 after eight games and are licking their wounds on the bye week. They're miraculously still in the AFC North race, but they are on life support. Realistically the Steelers would have to win the four remaining divisional games on their schedule and go no worse than 3-2 in the other five games on their schedule. The Steelers non-divisional opponents include the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders.
ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks to Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers as they play against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The way the team has performed, the task ahead to make a run at the AFC North Division Title is possible, but not likely. Fans shouldn’t give up hope, but with the current state of disarray on the coaching staff and mutiny afoot among the players, it is a bit myopic.
One former Steelers player who is paid by ESPN to give his opinion has given up on the 2022 Steelers and is looking to the NFL Draft where the Steelers may end up with their highest draft pick since they selected Terry Bradshaw with the first overall pick in 1970. Ryan Clark is also not ruling any position out to improve Pittsburgh’s fortunes in 2023.
“You never know where they might be in the upcoming draft,” Clark said. “This is going to be a quarterback-rich draft in which the last one wasn’t. Just because we drafted you last year, doesn't mean we have to keep you, and you can look no further than Arizona Cardinals drafting Kyler Murray one year after drafting Josh Rosen.”
Kenny Pickett has not gotten off to a great start in his rookie season. The counting numbers aren’t good with 2 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He had an opportunity to demonstrate the “it” factor that so many fans have faith that he has at the end of the Miami Dolphins game with two opportunities to win in the last five minutes, but they both ended in interceptions. Pickett has not been spectacular, but he hasn’t been Josh Rosen either.
Clark has been an enthusiastic Steelers critic for ESPN over the last few seasons. He giddily called Ben Roethlisberger washed up multiple times and looking back, he couldn’t have been more wrong as he was the only effective play-caller in Pittsburgh since Todd Haley departed Pittsburgh for obscurity. The former safety for Washington and Pittsburgh has called the Steelers out for not having any pride on defense for the last two seasons and now wants to give up on a rookie quarterback who has only played four games.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) drops back for a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 30, 2022 in Philadelphia, PA. | Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pickett is not a disaster under center like Rosen and to compare them is patently unfair. Pickett has moved the team between the twenties effectively, but is struggling mightily in the red zone. Clark as an analyst has thrived off criticizing Pittsburgh during his tenure at ESPN and has a vested interest in the black and gold continuing to struggle as a brand. He exposed the Antonio Brown feud he engaged in, after criticizing Roethlisberger didn’t get as much traction as he hoped.
Clark is not on the fast track to a coaching position or being sought as a talent evaluator by an NFL team. His point about the top of this draft being perceived as quarterback-rich with CJ Stroud and Bryce Young at the top of the list is true. Will Levis and Hendon Hooker are also considered to be top 10 prospects, but the real question would be, if Pickett was in this draft, where would he slot?
Brad Young / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers last nine games are going to produce victories and if they win 6-7 games they won’t draft in the top 5 and it is highly unlikely that Stroud and Young slip that far in the 2023 NFL Draft. So, it boils down to would you take Levis over Pickett? It doesn’t seem likely, that is no more than a lateral move at best. Either would benefit from the almost certain removal of Matt Canada at season's end. Hooker vs Pickett is a much more intriguing question, but if the Steelers are in position to pick an All-Pro lineman on offense or defense that will anchor the trenches for the next decade, is it worth the stretch?
Jarred Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
The remaining nine games are starting to be painted as Pickett’s audition to keep his job. The NFL is a quarterback driven league, but if it has come to scrapping rookie quarterbacks who struggle, then Pittsburgh will be in the endless position of playing the lottery and after decades of building through the draft and only 8 losing seasons since they drafted Bradshaw. It seems silly to throw decades of team building philosophy out the window.
The former safety for the black and gold might get good content for his analyst position by Pittsburgh abandoning their core philosophies while he stumps for his friend Mike Tomlin, not being at fault for the Steelers struggles. Unless Pickett definitively demonstrates he cannot handle the job over the second half of the season, the black and gold can ignore Clark and let him start getting introduced as the former Washington safety. Let him see how far he gets jumping off an empty bandwagon to create content by criticizing the Washington Commanders.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Clark way off base suggesting the Steelers dump Pickett? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
