Former Steelers Super Bowl-Winning WR Disillusioned With Kenny Pickett's Handling Of Situation: "Transfer Portal Babies!"

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked the NFL world when they announced that they were trading quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles after only two seasons. The Steelers offense looked anemic the past two years and while blame can be put on former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, Pickett was also a contributor. The release of Pickett wiped the slate clean on the 2023 quarterback room as the team had already let Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph go.

Pickett's trade came after the team reported they were signing perennial Pro Bowler, Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson. After the Wilson signing, reports emerged that Pickett did not take the news well, implying the team lied to him or let him down. The situation made Pickett come across as immature, because things hadn't gone the way he wanted. However, many feel that Pickett had not done enough to earn the right to act entitled. At the end of the day, football is a business and Pickett wasn't helping the bottom line enough.  

This debate over Pickett's reactions, the Steelers' response in trading him, and the subsequent signing of Justin Fields, have led to a flood of opinions on social media. Pickett has been subjected to a lot of negative comments from the media, fans, and even former players. One of those former players is Steelers wide receiver, Nate Washington.

"Transfer portal babies! smdh," posted Washington on X.

Washington helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls in the early 2000s and is referring to the process in college football where players can request to be sent to another team. The portal, which was put into place in 2018, but adjusted in 2021, has been a polarizing system in the world of college sports and therefore in the NFL. It used to be that players had to sit out for a season and lose a year of eligibility if they transferred to a new program. Players had to do some real soul-searching on what was best for their future. The portal changed that, allowing them to play immediately with a new team. Since that rule change, the number of student-athletes transferring has more than doubled. 

Many players, like Washington, who played before the changes in the portal, feel that it has harmed players, particularly their psyche. Before the change, players had to fight and compete to win a starting job. If you signed with a program and someone started over you, it was up to you to earn that starting job. This is a lot more like how the NFL operates. Now, if players are unhappy, they find a new school and transfer there. 

"At no point in this tweet did I say 'he transferred.' He's a product of the generation, is the point. Just so we're clear..." clarified Washington.

Washington elaborated that switching teams when you aren't getting your way is simply a product of the time that Pickett played. But this kind of situation could become more common as players who've switched schools enter the NFL. 

In the 2024 draft alone, multiple top quarterbacks entered the transfer portal during their time in college. That includes Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler, Michael Penix Jr. and Jordan Travis. While you can't fault the players for wanting the exposure that playing time brings, especially in light of the NIL, it does limit how much they have to compete. Washington isn't the first person to suggest the ability to change when the going gets tough sets some players up for failure in the NFL. 

The Steelers' New Quarterbacks Need More Targets To Throw To

The Steelers' entire revamping of the quarterback room is incredibly unusual for them. The team is known to stand by their players; sometimes it felt that happened almost to a fault. That hasn't been an issue this offseason, however. The team not only let Pickett go, they let one of his top targets go, wide receiver, Diontae Johnson. 

Pittsburgh has long been called "Wide Receiver U" for the way they find and develop great receivers who were not first-round selections. That group includes Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, and John Stallworth to name a few. The other key component of that strategy is knowing when to cut ties. Pittsburgh rarely keeps receivers once their shelf life has expired.     

Most analysts agree the Steelers will once again seek a wide receiver in this draft. However, the fact that General Manager Omar Khan has been so much more aggressive in procuring players this offseason, creates hope the team is seeking out a big-name veteran. After all, there have been several top receivers mentioned with the Steelers including Brandon Aiyuk, Justin Jefferson, and Mike Williams. 

There are concerns that with new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's run-heavy scheme, there won't be enough targets to keep multiple top receivers happy. Right now, Pickens is the team's biggest deep threat. Would someone like Aiyuk, or even one of the top receivers in the draft want to come into that situation?   

What do you think about Washington's comments? Click to comment below. 

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