Entering just his second season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is getting all sorts of love this offseason. Now, everyone expects him to take a big leap forward in 2023. If there was any question before, it seems like Pittsburgh is now completely sold on Pickett being the answer to their future. The Pittsburgh Panthers product has drawn several noteworthy comparisons over the past year or so.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has massive expectations to help the team turn things around in his second NFL season.
Our very own Parker Abate made the direct comparison to Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen recently. The one that he's been compared to the most it seems has been Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace played in Buffalo for four years with Allen. On Friday, in an appearance on Good Morning Football, Wallace made a comparison between the two quarterbacks.
"I’ve seen him [Pickett] come in and just be hungry and just wanna learn the game. And obviously, there’s a transition period when you’re a rookie, but that first week in Buffalo, I’m trying to go home and get some rest, and he wants to stay and watch film and ask me questions about Buffalo’s defense, 'cause he just wants to win so bad. He reminds me a lot of Josh [Allen], as much as he’s a competitor, the way he prepares."
A consistent praise of Pickett has been his willingness to do whatever it takes to be great. He wants to win, and that's something that Steelers fans love to hear. It's what has already made him a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, which started almost immediately after his selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. When Mitch Trubisky started the season, fans began chanting Pickett's name immediately at Acrisure Stadium.
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky began the 2022 campaign as the team's starter, but he will now be the primary backup for Kenny Pickett entering 2023.
These comments aren't to say that Pickett is already at the level of Allen, who has already established a nice resume. Rather, many feel as if Pickett is ready for a jump in his second season to the next level in performance, similar to the one Allen made in 2019. If you remember, it wasn't always smooth sailing for Allen in Buffalo. He started his career with more interceptions than touchdowns in his 2018 rookie campaign.
Allen took a step forward in 2019 and then ascended into a superstar in his third season. Pickett faced a similar start in the fact that he threw several interceptions in his first few starts. Like Allen, the Steelers quarterback ended his rookie year with more interceptions than touchdowns. Thankfully, he showed massive improvements as the season wore on. After the 2022 season, former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats stated that Pickett can make every throw that his division rival can.
"Can he make every throw that Joe Burrow makes? Absolutely. We have to see it more consistently. We have to see it actually happen in the stadium in these critical moments. We were seeing flashes of it last season, which is why the optimism is there," Moats said about Pickett.
Joshua A. Bickel / Associated Press
Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith sacks Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the 2022 season opener.
Shortly after, it was NFL Network's Brian Baldinger that compared Pickett to Burrow. You get the gist, Pickett has been compared to just about every elite quarterback in the NFL. His natural confidence and moxie will help him go a long ways, and it seems others are confident in his overall arm talent. As Moats mentioned, we saw the flashes in 2023, including the game-winning drive against the Las Vegas Raiders. Time will tell if he evolves into a star like Allen or Burrow.
Do you think Josh Allen is a sensible comparison for Pickett? Do you think the Pittsburgh product turns into a star in his second NFL season? If he does, will that make the Steelers potential Super Bowl contenders? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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