The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. This surprised many because the Steelers tend to be incredibly loyal, sometimes keeping players or coaches longer than they should. However, Pickett made it clear he wasn't happy the team acquired Russell Wilson and asked to try his luck elsewhere. This came despite the insistence from Head Coach Mike Tomlin that there would be a quarterback competition.
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Former Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) during a home game at Acrisure Stadium.
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark joined his former teammate Bryant McFadden and his cousin Patrick Peterson, both former Steelers cornerbacks, on their show All Things Covered. The three talked about the Steelers quarterback room and Pickett's future. Pittsburgh has methodically improved the team's weak areas, and Clark thinks they have a shot at a playoff win this year. Clark, who now works as an analyst for ESPN, had some harsh words regarding Pickett's refusal to stay.
"This is a team that's going to compete for a playoff spot, but the quarterback play could take it from competing, to me, from a Wild Card, to competing to win the division. That's what's important. From what I hear, Kenny Pickett actually had an opportunity to compete there and he didn't want it. So now he's just going to be a lifelong backup," said Clark.
Pickett, the Steelers' first-round pick in 2022, found his time in Pittsburgh challenging. He grappled with consistency in making connections with receivers, reading the field, and deciding when to scramble, or stand in the pocket. These struggles affected his performance and put undue pressure on his offensive line. It also frustrated his receivers, with Diontae Johnson even being vocal about his support for Mason Rudolph.
While Pickett's performance could have been better, it's important to note that quarterbacks often need time to develop in the NFL; the transition is rarely seamless. Pickett was thrust into the spotlight during his rookie year, taking over for Mitch Trubisky after only a few weeks and with a mediocre offensive line. Another factor that influenced Pickett's performance was former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, whose abilities really came into question after Ben Roethlisberger's retirement.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' former offensive coordinator, Matt Canada (left).
It became clear rather quickly, especially after Roethlisberger retired, that Canada was in over his head. There is little doubt Canada's mismanagement negatively impacted Pickett, but the extent is hard to determine. In the one full game Pickett played without Canada after the OC was fired midseason, Pickett looked better, passing for 278 yards and 0 interceptions; but more data is needed to decide. Pickett was then injured and out for the rest of the season the following week. This has people debating Pickett's future. He is now behind Jalen Hurts on the bench in Philadelphia, and his chance of starting there is slim.
Did the Steelers make a mistake in letting him go, or did Pickett make a mistake in wanting to leave? If Pickett hadn't gone to Philadelphia, the Steelers likely wouldn't have made a move to acquire Justin Fields. With Pickett being the starter in Pittsburgh, Tomlin was more willing to allow competition for the job, and Pickett had a shot. Now, he knows he is only a backup for the Eagles and will likely have to wait for Hurts to be injured to have a chance. It would be easier for Pickett to show his abilities if he is in the spotlight.
Steelers Should Want Justin Fields To Succeed
Clark also spoke about Fields and Wilson and who he thinks will be the team's future. Whenever Clark is asked about this situation on air, he makes it clear that he believes Fields should be the Steelers' starter. He does concede that Wilson will have the job to start. According to Clark, the way OTAs and camp work now makes it very hard for a player to supplant the person ahead of them on the depth chart.
Clark is concerned that Wilson could play well enough to keep his starting job, but not great enough to win in the playoffs. At some point, Tomlin must decide based on Wilson's performance and Fields' potential. He said teams should want a dynamic quarterback, but that differed from how things were done during his time.
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Justin Fields uses his legs to try and escape defenders during a game previously against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to Clark, General Manager Omar Khan has changed how business is done with the Steelers. They are taking more chances and he sees it as something that will pay off in the long run. He thinks Khan will push for Fields to start at some point.
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