The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. They rarely draft quarterbacks in the first round and only four quarterbacks have been selected during the Super Bowl era with their first selection. Those players include Terry Bradshaw in 1970, Mark Malone in 1980, Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 and Pickett. Bradshaw and Roethlisberger are legends. Long-time fans will remember that the teams of the 1980's had mixed results under Malone, but he did get the team to the AFC Championship game in 1984, his first year as a starter. Beyond 1984 however, he was at best a journeyman after being selected with the 28th pick overall.
Is it coincidental that Malone replaced Bradshaw, and now Pickett is the heir apparent to Roethlisberger? Probably not, but Pittsburgh did not rush Malone to the field, instead opting initially for the team’s backup quarterback, Cliff Stoudt, in the first post-Bradshaw season to step in during the 1983 campaign and lead the team to a 10-6 showing before getting shellacked in the 1983 playoffs by the hated Los Angeles Raiders. Malone however, inherited a team coming off two first round playoff losses before he took over and led them to a conference championship showdown with Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins.
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)
Mitch Trubisky is a far better option that Stoudt and the black and gold were fortunate to find a quarterback with a winning record in 50 pro starts and two playoff appearances on his resume for the price they paid. Trubisky knows that he has a firm grip on the starting job at this point and because of the rookie's draft position, the team should not feel any pressure to rush him onto the field.
Pickett is set to make $14 million dollars over four seasons, so even if he does not make it to the field, his rookie deal is less than half of what Trevor Lawrence got as the number one overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft. In fact, if you combine Trubisky and Pickett’s deals, they will make slightly less than Lawrence will on his rookie contract.
(L-R) Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky | Justin Berl/Getty Images; Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
According to multiple sources, Pickett has exhibited strong leadership qualities during Organized Team Activities (OTA’s) and has occasionally struggled during drills with accuracy. A young signal-caller needs to have his confidence built carefully. Every time he steps in the huddle during training camp, Matt Canada and Mike Sullivan need to make sure he is running plays that build his confidence. Canada’s development of the rookie feels like the biggest make or break measurable during 2022.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8), participates in Organized Team Activities (OTA's) Thursday June 2, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pickett is easy to root for and just like any rookie, he will struggle at times. But a veteran defense and a young offense will be watching closely that he has presence when called upon to do the job. If that presence equals production, he may pass Trubisky during 2022, but he does not have to and that is the biggest favor that the organization did for the young man. He can take his time and learn the pro game. I am sure that he wants to be on the field as badly as Andrew Fillipponi, his unofficial hype man wants him to be, but the last thing anyone should want is for him to be rushed.
If the Pittsburgh players, even in short bursts in practice, see him as productive whenever he touches the ball, it will benefit him greatly when he eventually takes the field. Mike Tomlin is too good at managing a locker room for patience to devolve into a quarterback controversy. The Buffalo Bills made that mistake nearly a decade ago when they selected E.J. Manuel at 16 (the last time a first round quarterback was taken outside of the top 15) and forced him onto the field early.
Pickett is better than Manuel, but that is not lofty praise. The black and gold are in the sweet spot for contention because of their quarterback’s salaries. His salary is so low during his rookie deal, that the Steelers can be aggressive re-signing Diontae Johnson or Chase Claypool and be aggressive in free agency for the next two seasons. If Trubisky plays well and gets the Steelers to the playoffs in 2022, then the Steelers will have the luxury of both quarterbacks under contract for 2023 at affordable rates before they are forced to decide on a direction at the position.
If both quarterbacks demonstrate they are not the answer, Pittsburgh will have more flexibility to pursue a veteran solution to the problem because they paid bargain basement rates for 2022 and 2023 with very little owed to Pickett for the remainder of his rookie deal. However, it is important they do not waste the primes of T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick while searching for that answer.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you agree with bringing Pickett along slowly and giving the Trubisky reclamation project every chance to pan out? Or do you want to see Pickett on the field immediately? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
