While some were surprised that only one quarterback heard his name called on the first day of last week’s draft, no one was caught off guard by the fact that Pittsburgh was the lone team to add a signal-caller. After the draft was over, it was confirmed that Kenny Pickett will have a chance to win the No. 1 role right away. 
[RELATED: Steelers Select Pickett At No. 20]
As detailed by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, head coach Mike Tomlin was “pretty clear” in his post-draft media availability that Pickett “will be given the chance to unseat Mitch Trubisky as [the] starter”. Once the latter had been signed, it was expected he would operate as a stop-gap while the team searched for a long-term Ben Roethlisberger replacement. Given the structure of his two-year deal, Trubisky’s cap hit for 2022 is only $3.66MM, while it jumps to over $10.6MM the following year.
While that pointed to the ex-Bears first-rounder being the favorite for the starting role, the team made it clear in the build-up to the draft that they would add competition at the position. On that point, Breer adds that Tomlin named Pickett’s status as the most NFL-ready of this year’s prospects as “a big reason the Steelers took him” with their top pick. Another, undoubtedly, was the familiarity the team has with the Pitt product, who had a record-breaking final season in college en route to being a Heisman finalist.
Much of the team’s evaluation of both Trubisky and Pickett, of course, will depend on their performances during the offseason. With most other starting QB spots already decided, though, the internal competition between the two will be one to watch in the run-up to the 2022 campaign.
I’m not down on the Pickett selection, I just don’t feel it really moves the needle in the division. Regardless of which QB they go with, the Steelers have by far the worst in the AFC north with Burrow/Watson/Jackson. Should be an interesting season upcoming.
i think he can win a superbowl as a game manager for a Defense lead team with an elite RB and YAC guys like Pickens and Austin.
copy the 2014 Seahawks who defeated a HOF Qb to win the superbowl
2014 Seahawks had Russell Wilson (3,475 yards passing and 849 yards rushing) and Marshawn Lynch and they were 10th in the league in scoring. ‘Copying’ that is much easier said than done.
They also lost the Super Bowl. If you meant the 2013 Seahawks, they were 8th in the league in scoring that year.
Ravens and Dilfer.
Buddy that was 21 years ago the league has changed significantly.
Arm chair gms know all. Dont let facts stop him.
the expectation never changes with the steelers.
that’s why instead of tanking like the Falcons and current Seahawks , they filled positions of need in free agency and the draft.
Trubisky gave them a shot at playoffs, Kenny P gives them a chance at a ring.
the expectation never changes
Buddy I love your confidence but a shot at a ring? Based on your comments I assume you watched the Chiefs blast them twice near the end of the season, at one point during the second game it was 30-3 KC. Bills, Bengals, Ravens, Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos all have better rosters at the moment. I don’t know about a ring.
You do realize that this won’t be the same Steelers team next season and the Chiefs won’t be either. Instead of immobile Ben, other teams will have to deal with a QB who can actually scramble and run when needed. The Steelers aren’t all the way there yet, but they may surprise yet.
You do realize this team caught plenty of breaks last season and still finished barely above .500? The ravens entire team got injured and the Steelers barely sneaked by them twice. They played a broncos team with Bridgewater at QB. They played a browns team with a severely injured QB twice. That immobile Ben guy you referenced didn’t play against the Lions, who they tied. It’s ok to be a realist, they are a 4th place team next season in a very difficult division.
Everyone played a Bridgewater Broncos team. Severely injured QB? What’s your point? Steelers had a QB that could barely throw 20 yards, offensive line that was all new and horrible, but still made the playoffs.
I am sorry that you are having difficulty keeping up with the chat. Go back to the beginning before you astutely pointed out “ravens and dilfer” and read my initial point. It is a QB driven league, they have the 4th best QB in their 4 team division. That is not a recipe for success outside of the amazing “ravens and dilfer.”
Ravens and dilfer
who says Lamar will actually be good? the guy has almost no accuracy and is surely slowing down.
who says Burrows little fragile ace doesn’t end up on the shelf?
who says Deshaun isn’t suspended 18 games for being a perv?
then suddenly steelers have best QB
I guess you just have a crystal ball. true steelers fans let the games be played.
never supposed to beat the 08 Colts… Kenny P gives them a chance at a ring whether u believe it or not
and PS Najee is way better than Marshawn Lynch
I think the Bengals & Steelers are 2 best teams in division by a landslide
And who says Trubisky and Pickett won’t stink up the place? Come on.
the point is this isn’t like being a blind faith Pirates fan.
the steelers in no way punted this off-season, infact they worked to fill all holes and establish a capable roster and will continue to do so
Seems like there are a great many people who enjoy Steelers problems or the idea that they’ll be down for awhile. Seems it usually comes from fans of franchises that had one or two playoff appearances in the past two or three decades. The sour grapes meter is in overdrive
ya I don’t think that they understand that if Pickett or Mitch are even decent the steelers have a chance at the division
Defense is so much better than any AFC team.
arguably the best D last year and adds up to 5 upgrades to starters from injury return/free agency
Myles Jack for shco, Levi Wallace for haden, Tuitt and Alualu back from inj, kazee/edmonds vet competition for Ss
If they thumb wrestle for the job, Trubisky’s definitely got it. (I think he’s probably got it for at least a few games anyway.)
Triubisky has more thumb to grab on to. Pickett can do the duck under then come over the top to pin the Trubisky digit.
That move never fails, it’s how Lincoln Hawk defeated Bull Hurley.
I think Mitch is better than advertised. He isn’t some world beater by any measure but he had some decent numbers in a few seasons in Chicago. Also, being in Chicago as a QB is a detriment to anyone.
Mitch has a solid WR group, young TE and RB with an O-Line that has been updated from last year and can’t really be much worse I can’t imagine.
The defense can keep them in any game but the team is still likely to finish poorly by record just by being in the AFC North, but I don’t think any poor finish will be due to Mitch.
I don’t think Mitch is any world beater, but I think he’s much better equipped for right now. As much as I like the Daniels signing, I don’t know how good their line will be, and Pickett’s average time to throw last year was over 3 seconds. If he can’t cut that down dramatically, he’ll be flattened.
Mitch will excel. I agree
I think in a perfect world Mitch wins the job, and I think if he does he’ll do well. He’s got a much better supporting cast and coaching staff than he usually did in Chicago, and others have suggested that he matured and grew from the Chicago experience. Pickett will end up being the long-term starter down the road, but a healthy competition will end up helping both guys. Rudolph is not, should not be, and will not be a factor.
Pickett has a chip on his shoulder because of his hand size. But if Rosen could transition. This guy is going to need a 3-4 year rope. The length of rope seems to be getting shorter.
Having seen some tape on him now, not sure why people on down on Pickett.
Is he Burrow or Herbert? No, but most aren’t.
It would be nice if his arm was 10% stronger, but other than that he seems to do everything you need your QB to do.
The fact that a recent #2 overall pick is going to be his backup while a former #1 overall pick is standing on the shores of Lake Erie with a “Will Throw Football for Food” sign proves the draft is a crapshoot when it comes to QB’s…so not getting why Pickett is regarded as a bad bet.
Pickett is not as athletically gifted as Burrow or Herbert. But as you’ve alluded to and as “tiredolddude” suggests below (and has suggested before here) Pickett reminds a lot of people of Burrow because of his moxie, his leadership, his “it factor” if you will. There is a certain “je ne sais quoi” about Pickett. He won’t wow you with rifle throws or by sprinting past tacklers, he just seems to consistently get the job done.
It took him five years to get that good in the ACC, he’s physically limited, and he had fumble issues in college, which makes his small hands a concern. He also holds the ball far too long. That’s a lot to overcome.
I went back and forth on the idea that any of this year’s quarterback crop was truly first-round caliber but having watched the kid in his time at Pitt, he was the right choice for the Steelers. He reminds me a lot of Burrow. Pickett works hard to improve and is a fiery competitor. I don’t know when he’ll finally start, but I’m hoping he shuts a lot of mouths quickly
And frankly, he and Mitch are both an improvement over the Roethlisberger we saw in the last two seasons. They’ve upgraded the offense and I’m looking forward to see what they do this season
Guess my only gripe is what they did after their first few picks. They could’ve bolstered both lines but chose to go the friends and family route, added a guy who is relatively new at linebacker and another QB
But they surprised me during this off season. They signed some solid players, had a decent draft and even brought in a couple on unsigned guys to compete
This has been the most interesting and fascinating Steeler off/season I can remember in my 40+ years if Steeler fandom. Unfortunately even if it hadn’t been I will always remember it for the Dwayne Haskins tragedy.
Would Pickett have been drafted by the Steelers were he not a homegrown product? This feels like a PR gimmick the Pirates would pull to boost attendance.
The Steelers have a 20 year waiting list on season tickets.
Guessing they didn’t sabotage themselves (at the most important position in sports) for a “homegrown product” as if they were Bam Morris.
Especially because Pickett is from NJ and almost no one in Pittsburgh gives two blanks about Pitt.
Pitt football had completely alienated itself from the city of Pittsburgh. No one other than current and former students cares at all about the Panthers anymore, and they have only themselves to blame. First they decided to share Heinz Field with the Steelers: it was a major upgrade facility-wise over the Old Pitt Stadium, but it’s also a 15-20 minute drive from campus meaning there is next to no home field advantage when they play there. Then Pitt decides to join the ACC, managing to make themselves an also-ran in every sport and maintaining none of their traditional rivalries.
Forty years ago, the Steelers not taking local boy Dan Marino was an enormous deal (Marino actually went to high school at Pittsburgh Central Catholic in addition to going to Pitt). But with the Steelers taking Kenny Pickett it’s merely coincidental that he went to Pitt; he was the best fit and option for them.
Pickett is no where close to being ready to lead a NFL team. The kid is years away . Tomlin best hope trib can game manage enough to keep them competitive.
Pickett is seen by nearly every analyst as being the closest to being ready of this year’s QB prospects. He’s certainly closer to being ready than Willis, who was probably the only other QB that the Steelers seriously considered. Willis may very well end up being better than Pickett, but it will take longer for him to reach his ceiling than it will Pickett. And that mattered to the Steelers when making their choice, they’ve said so.
Monkey being close is a relative term. Bassett being closer than Willis is irrelevant the kid is still years away from being a viable nfl quarterback, if ever. Sorry to burst your bubble monkeys, but the lads ceiling is your Brady Quinn not tom Brady. Sadly.
It’s ironic you mention Quinn. I was thinking about him as Willis slid down the ladder. Then as now, scouts apparently aren’t easily fooled. I have to also laugh at those here who somehow see some negative in Pickett improving every year. You’d think it was Pop Warner ball and the big boys all moved up a level while Pickett has been fattening up on scrubs. Sheesh, the sour grapes
We’ll see what Pickett can do soon enough.
Tom Brady benefited from a coach and a system that gamed the league and its rules year after year. And in spite of all that, mister so-called goat didn’t exactly win every Super Bowl, did he? Go away.
There are so many things wrong with this comment it’s honestly tough to begin, especially since it reads as if you had a seizure while writing it. But I never even mentioned or thought to mention Tom Brady. And the “years away” thing is your opinion… and yours alone.
That’s a load. He’s not years away. You obviously went no farther than watching clips of him play. Sit down.