The Pittsburgh Steelers' players are scheduled to report to Latrobe later on today to get training camp underway. One of the biggest questions going into training camp for the Steelers is obviously the quarterback position and who comes out as the team's Week 1 starter.
Currently, it seems like the competition starts with veteran free agent signee QB Mitch Trubisky.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 24: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) takes part in a drill during the team's OTA practice, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I think it starts with Mitch,” Steelers superstar DL Cam Heyward said via Not Just Football. “I think the thing that we have to remember about Mitch is, he’s coming from a situation [in Chicago] where they didn’t really give him anything. And he still made it to the playoffs. Mitch does a lot of things right. I think we have a better team around him, and we’re going to support him. Right now, he’s our No. 1.”
However, regardless of who comes out of camp, this quarterback situation could go into the season still with questions. In fact, many analysts have predicted that the Steelers 2022 1st-round selection QB Kenny Pickett will take over maybe as early as mid-season.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 25: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) throws the ball during the team's OTA practice on May 25, 2022, at the Steelers Practice Facility in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In an article from last month, Bleacher Report and writer Jake Rill presented readers with a few hot takes and predictions for the Steelers’ free agent additions.
Rill made a prediction for how the Steelers' QB battle could unfold in this upcoming season.
“While Trubisky will start early, he won’t make enough of an impact to fend off Pickett and keep the job," Rill stated in his article. "It won’t be a terrible showing, but Pittsburgh will decide midseason that it’s time to turn to the first-round pick.“Prediction: Trubisky will be replaced midseason after throwing less than 10 TD passes.”
If that's the case, Pickett may have a really good chance at getting his name out there for Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) votes, especially if Trubisky struggles early on. In a recent article published by NFL.com, analyst Lance Zierlein ranked his top 10 NFL OROY candidates for the upcoming season. Zierlein placed Pickett at number 3 on his list.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
"While Pickett might not win the starting job coming out of camp, we can’t overlook the fact that a quarterback has won this award in six of the last 12 seasons," Zierlein stated in his article. "Pickett is a full-field reader who can spread the ball around the field when necessary.The Steelers have an intriguing combination of size and speed at receiver (Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens) and a talented runner who can catch the ball out of the backfield (Najee Harris). If Pickett can beat out Mitchell Trubisky for the starting job (and that certainly seems possible), he has a real shot of quickly putting some numbers up on the board."
Obviously, the earlier Pickett plays, the better chance he has to put his name into the hat for the OROY award. The quarterback room is surrounded by untapped potential on the offensive side of the ball. And if Trubisky and the Steelers' offense struggles and Pickett takes over and creates an offensive spark for the Black and Gold, he could be plunged into that very conversation.
What are yinz thoughts on Pickett being listed as a Top 3 OROY candidate for this season? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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