Steelers Get Front Row Seat As Division Rival Gets Publicly Embarrassed By Kenny Pickett Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in a weird spot at the quarterback position over the last several seasons, and a lot of that has to do with the organization selecting Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh picked Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the first draft after Ben Roethlisberger retired, and it became clear quickly that the pick was a bit of a reach. The franchise panicked and drafted the only quarterback that had a grade that was considered near the first round, when in reality, the organization probably should have waited until 2023 to draft a quarterback that early.

Pickett entered the 2023 season as the unquestioned starter in Pittsburgh, but it became clear he did not have what it took and he never lived up to his first-round label. The organization decided to trade the quarterback during the 2024 offseason, as he went on to play with the Philadelphia Eagles and won in Super Bowl LIX. He was mostly a backup, but he filled in for Jalen Hurts a few times throughout the season and put some quality play on film. This made the Eagles trade him again, and now he is preparing for his first season with the Cleveland Browns.

Browns General Manager Andrew Berry recently spoke to the media, and he was asked about the fifth-year option on Pickett's contract. The GM completely embarrassed himself and the organization as he had no idea he needed to make a decision on the matter.

"So, that would have been last year with the Philadelphia Eagles," Berry said. "You have to make that decision after year three, since he's already in year four. That's not a decision that we make."

Berry, the GM of an NFL team, doesn't seem to understand the rules behind deciding on a player's fifth-year option. Fifth-year options are only a thing on the rookie contracts of players selected in the first round, and the organization has to make a decision as the player goes into their fourth season about whether or not the option will be picked up. If it is picked up, the player is under contract for two more seasons. If it is not, the player will become a free agent after the upcoming season.

The Browns ultimately made the decision to not pick up Pickett's option, but it is a bit ridiculous that the organization had no clue they had a say in the matter. It was somewhat of a no-brainer to not pick the option up, as Pickett could start for them or be a backup in 2025. This will be a trial year for the two sides, and the franchise selecting two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft doesn't bode well for Pickett.

The number on the fifth-year option is decided by position, playing time, and Pro Bowls. Pickett will become a free agent following the 2024 season, and the quarterback should have a decent market as a backup. If he sees a good amount of playing time in Cleveland and can perform well, he might be able to be considered for a starting role in some spots that are desperate at the position.

Steelers Have Plenty Of Experience Denying Fifth-Year Options

The last time Pittsburgh picked up a fifth-year option, it was for Minkah Fitzpatrick ahead of the 2021 season. The Steelers didn't even draft Fitzpatrick, but it was a no-brainer at the time to do so. The franchise declined both Najee Harris' and Justin Fields' options ahead of the 2024 season, and the last home-grown first-round pick who had their option picked up was TJ Watt. 

This is an eye-opening fact that reveals just how underwhelming Pittsburgh's drafts were in the late 2010s through the early 2020s with first-round talent. Hopefully, that trend ends in the upcoming years.

What do you think about the Browns' mishap? Let us know in the comments below!

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