We're five games into the Pittsburgh Steelers' season, and quarterback Kenny Pickett hasn't ascended like many projected him to. After glowing reports from Pittsburgh this summer, followed up with a flawless preseason, Pickett was a popular pick to be a breakout star at quarterback. Instead, it feels like he's taken a step back in his second NFL season. Through five games, Pickett has completed under 60% of his passes for just 1,027 passing yards and five touchdowns.
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Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett hasn't been great in the first five games of the 2023 season, which has left concerns for the future in Pittsburgh.
The question now persists: is Pickett the long-term answer for the Steelers? These doubts weren't prevalent just two months ago, as his moxie and leadership had fans confident that he was the guy. We've still got 12 games remaining in the regular season for him to improve, but things aren't looking great. Ahead of Week 5, Fox Sports' Jason McIntyre gave an updated mock draft. He has the Steelers taking quarterback Riley Leonard in the first round with the 21st overall pick.
"I'm not totally done with Kenny Pickett yet — he'll probably get a chance next season if the inept offensive coordinator [Matt Canada] is replaced. Leonard, a 6-foot-4 kid from Alaska who probably will remind too many people of Daniel Jones, was off to a hot start before a high ankle sprain sidelined him. He might return to school in an effort to bolster his draft stock, or he could just roll some of the Clemson and Northwestern footage where he looked like an NFL QB."
As McIntyre mentions, his game will likely be compared to Daniel Jones for a few reasons, as both of them did go to Duke. Similar to Jones, Leonard is a very good runner. In five games in 2023, he had three contests with at least 85 rushing yards, and he picked up four touchdowns on the ground as well. He did somewhat struggle through the air though, as he threw for just three touchdowns across 126 pass attempts.
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New York Giants' Daniel Jones' huge contract has brought up questions on why star running back Saquon Barkley isn't getting paid what he is worth.
These would already leave doubts on if he's worth a first-round pick, as he particularly struggled to throw the ball against the two stout defenses that he faced in Clemson and Notre Dame. Unfortunately, he is out for the foreseeable future. At the end of the Notre Dame matchup, Leonard suffered what looked like a nasty injury. Fortunately, he avoided a major injury, as it only ended up being a high ankle sprain.
What Should The Steelers Do If Pickett Doesn't Improve?
He may return at some point in 2023, but the timetable is unclear. Ultimately, this injury could present even more risk for picking him in the first round. The ankle should be fully healed by the time of the draft, but the concerns about his game may not be answered by then. This would be the perfect offseason for the Steelers to try and find a franchise quarterback, that's if Pickett isn't the answer.
The draft class is loaded, led by top prospects Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, along with several other intriguing options. In free agency, Kirk Cousins will be available. While he will be 36 years old by the time the 2024 season starts, he could be a perfect option for a few years. Through five weeks, he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (13) and is second in passing yards (1,498).
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USC quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to be a generational talent in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the Steelers won't have a high enough draft pick to have a chance at getting him.
Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings' record is just 1-4 despite his excellent play. Signs seem to point toward the two sides moving on this offseason, as they may even finish with a bad enough record to get a high draft pick.While Pickett may not be the franchise guy, picking Leonard at No. 21 would be a huge gamble. Things will change over the next few months, and Pickett could show signs of improvement. For now, things don't look promising for the Pittsburgh product.
Are there any signs that Pickett can still be the guy moving forward? Beyond Williams and Maye, the unanimous top-two quarterback prospects, who do you like from the upcoming draft class? Do you think the Steelers will give Pickett another year after 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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