Steelers Will Waste No Time Lamenting The Loss Of Kenny Pickett

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising decision during the 2024 offseason to completely wipe the quarterback room clean and start over. Rarely do the Steelers not even carry a backup from the prior season. For example, when Ben Roethlisberger retired and they drafted Kenny Pickett, they still had Mason Rudolph, who'd been with the team since 2018.

They allowed Rudolph to explore free agency and released Mitch Trubisky, creating a need for a strong veteran, especially because Pickett faced some challenges. This led to the exciting signing of nine-time Pro Bowler, Russell Wilson. Head Coach Mike Tomlin clarified that there would be competition for the starting quarterback spot. However, Pickett's discontent added a twist to the story. He voiced his unhappiness to Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan, resulting in his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

With Pickett gone, the Steelers could make another move. This one was a trade for Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. Fields had been a player of interest when they chose to sign Wilson. Despite the addition, Tomlin said that Wilson would be given the "pole position " in deference to his successful career.

The trade of Pickett stirred up a range of emotions among the Steelers fan base. Many fans felt that Pickett had already shown signs of poor sportsmanship when he was benched in favor of Rudolph at the end of 2023. There was also a sense of entitlement perceived about Pickett, as if he believed he deserved a better position, despite not truly having earned it. These reactions sparked heated discussions among the fans. 

Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac, who covers the team for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently spoke about the young quarterback in his popular "chat column." Dulac has made no secret of his belief that Rudolph is the better quarterback, but it is also clear that he wasn't impressed with Pickett's attitude. 

When a fan asked Dulac if the Steelers would "wake up and realize what they had" about the recently departed quarterbacks, he did not waste time on flowery language. 

"I don't think it will be the guy in Philly," quipped Dulac.

Dulac didn't just mention Pickett and Rudolph's departure once in his chat. It often comes up from the many frustrated Steelers fans who are angry about what transpired. They feel either that Pickett got a bum deal, or that the team should have never drafted him to begin with. The sympathy is primarily because the organization kept former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada and his ineffective playbook for almost two seasons. This could have impacted Pickett's development. 

Few dispute Canada's negative impact, but they still feel that Pickett did not show what he needed to be a starting NFL quarterback. Dulac believes that Pickett has no one but himself to blame. 

"Kenny Pickett did it to himself. When they signed Russell Wilson, I said we'll find out about Pickett -- is he a flower who will wilt in the face of competition, or is he a fighter who will battle for what he thinks is his? You got your answer."

In Pittsburgh, Pickett had a real shot at competition against Wilson. He had the advantage of having a relationship with most of his teammates. The offense, with new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, is new to both. However, now he is with the Eagles, where he will ride the bench behind Jalen Hurts, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. 

Hurts has battled some injuries, so Pickett may get an opportunity to play if that persists. However, one thing is certain: Philly natives will not be happy with Pickett's dramatics. 

Did The Steelers Make A Mistake?

Dulac has been a Rudolph fan since before he saved Christmas in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He has spoken about how he believes that the organization mistreated him. Rudolph rode the bench behind Roethlisberger for years, and many think he was never given a fair shot. 

Others would argue that Rudolph got opportunities, but he squandered them or lacked the necessary skills. His play when Roethlisberger was injured was so underwhelming that, at one point, he was benched. Rudolph may feel frustrated with the Steelers, but doesn't show it, remaining a consummate professional. 

"I felt bad for Mason Rudolph," said Dulac. "He got dumped on two or three times by the Steelers. If anybody had the right to say it was time to move on -- Pickett's words when he arrived in Philly -- it was Mason."

Whether the Steelers did Rudolph wrong at this point is all water under the bridge. While he did shock the football world by closing last season out with three wins and a Wild Card berth, most experts agree that he isn't a starting-caliber quarterback. 

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