Ex-Steelers Bust Kenny Pickett Continues To Be Magnificent As 3rd Stringer

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, having been impressed by his performance at Pitt. Despite a promising start, Pickett's first two seasons with the Steelers were marked by inconsistency. 

Over that period, he threw 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and his record as a starter was 14-10. While Pickett occasionally demonstrated clutch performance, his uneven play led the Steelers to acquire veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in the offseason. Unhappy with the competition and his possible diminished role, Pickett requested a trade.

Now with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pickett is slated as the backup to star quarterback Jalen Hurts. However, recent reports suggest he might be demoted to the third string behind Tanner McKee. According to Eagles beat reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks, McKee could potentially secure the backup role, which would leave Pickett in a less favorable position.

Pickett's move to the Eagles was motivated by his desire to avoid a quarterback competition, but he now faces a challenging situation. Hurts, who signed a five-year, $255 million extension with the Eagles in 2023, is firmly entrenched as the starter. Consequently, Pickett's chances of seeing significant playing time are slim unless Hurts is injured.

Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore addressed the situation, noting that McKee's increased reps with the second team should not be seen as a negative reflection on Pickett. Moore expressed satisfaction with Pickett’s performance during training camp, underscoring that the decision regarding practice reps does not diminish the team's confidence in him.

"Tanner is doing an awesome job," Moore said Tuesday. "Kenny is doing an awesome job. Really two independent things. It's not necessarily that they're associated with each other. I think both of those guys are having really good camps."

Pickett faced a challenging situation during his time with the Steelers. While he was given numerous opportunities to run the offense, his play was often hindered by a reluctance to take risks, resulting in a frustratingly conservative attack. Some would even suggest the Steelers never gave Pickett a fair chance.

Much of Pickett’s struggles can be attributed to former Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada, under whom the offense stagnated and reached new lows. The struggles during the 2023 season forced the Steelers to dismiss Canada mid-season, leading to a notable improvement in Pickett's performance.

Steelers' Kenny Pickett Looked Good Without Matt Canada

In the first game following Canada's departure against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pickett completed 72.7% of his passes for 278 yards, though he didn’t manage a touchdown pass. The offense showed significant improvement, sparking hope among Steelers fans. 

However, Pickett’s promising run was cut short during a game against the Arizona Cardinals. After starting strong with seven completions on his first 10 throws, Pickett was injured while attempting to score, and this marked the last appearance of him as the Steelers' starter.

Reports surfaced that Pickett was unwilling to serve as a backup to Mason Rudolph. That has been debated, but Pickett was clearly not happy. When Rudolph took over, the offense flourished, scoring more touchdowns and performing significantly better. The decision to stick with Rudolph’s hot hand was tough but effective, leaving Pickett frustrated, especially when the Steelers brought in Wilson after the season.

Now, Pickett finds himself with the Eagles, where he is vying to revive his NFL career. Despite some reports indicating he might be demoted to third string, the official depth chart lists him as the backup to Hurts. Steelers fans will be watching closely to see how Pickett’s career unfolds with his new team.

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