Steelers' "Pickett Dump" Earns Team A Dreadful Grade With Limited Return

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked their fan base and much of the NFL when they announced they traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles after only two seasons. The deal gave the Eagles Pickett and the Steelers' original 2024 NFL Draft pick of 120. The Steelers got the Eagles' original pick of 98 and two seventh-round picks in 2025.  

The deal came about when Pickett apparently expressed displeasure with the team's decision to sign nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson. While there was talk of Pickett and Wilson engaging in a quarterback competition, the deal in Philadelphia is to be a backup. There is only a chance for Pickett to start if Jalen Hurts sustains an injury. 

Pickett has been a polarizing figure in Pittsburgh since the team drafted him with their first-round pick in 2022. Pickett gained attention when he succeeded in his final year at the University of Pittsburgh. The two teams share facilities, so the Steelers got to know Pickett quite well. That is why they felt comfortable reaching for him a bit in the draft.  

It is only possible to grade a trade accurately after it plays out entirely and we see what the player does. Regardless of future outcomes, the early grades are starting to come in, and Pittsburgh did not get high marks for the trade as they did for Justin Fields. According to Kevin Patra, a writer from NFL.com, the Steelers only earned a C- for this trade. 

"As good as the trade for Fields was for Pittsburgh, the Pickett dump was nearly as bad. It received little return -- a pick swap and two future seventh-round -- for the former No. 20 overall draft pick, who was still on the cheap portion of his contract. And yet, based on reports of Pickett's negative reaction to the signing of Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh appears justified in washing its hands of the situation. The former Pitt Panther never raised his game or team in two seasons. Blame can go to the scheme or play-caller, but ultimately, Pickett rarely flashed anything resembling a franchise quarterback, and his paltry stats underscore the point -- 13 total touchdowns, 13 INTs and 178.96 yards per tilt in 25 games. Both the QB and the club needed a fresh start," wrote Patra.

Patra scored the Eagles a little higher with a C for their portion. Hurts has proven to be a tough player who has tried to push through injuries in the past. However, he applauds that Pickett is an inexpensive option at less than $2 million and has experience starting in the NFL. He wondered if the signing of Pickett could hint that the Eagles are planning to run Hurts less under new Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore. 

What isn't precisely gradable is an unhappy player's impact on the team. You hear players like that referred to as "cancerous." While we will never know how Pickett would have handled Wilson starting over him, we have some evidence from the past. When Pickett was benched late in 2023 for third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph, he was asked if he had learned anything new. His answer was a curt "No." 

Steelers Will Still Have A Quarterback Controversy

The Steelers weren't excused from a quarterback controversy by trading Pickett away. Almost immediately after Pickett's departure, the team announced they were making a trade for Justin Fields. Fields, who was with the Chicago Bears, was someone the Steelers had considered at the time they took Wilson. 

General Manager Omar Khan said they were grateful that Fields was still available. Head Coach Mike Tomlin said Fields "oozes talent," and he is thrilled to have both Wilson and Fields on the roster. Tomlin also announced that Wilson would take the "pole position" as the starter, feeling that his success had earned him that. However, Fields will get a chance to compete down the road. 

The team announced that it also signed Kyle Allen. Allen practically swapped places with Mitch Trubisky, whom the Steelers let go at the start of the offseason. Allen lost his spot with the Buffalo Bills when they brought Trubisky back. The Steelers will likely have four quarterbacks heading into camp, so expect them to grab another veteran or draft a late-rounder. 

What grade would you give the Pickett trade? Click to comment below!

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