NFL
By Gio Annatelli, The Game Day
When Ben Roethlisberger retired, the Steelers found themselves looking for a new franchise quarterback for the first time since 2003. The team signed Mitch Trubisky to a two-year deal, hoping he would take over. And just for some insurance, Pittsburgh drafted Kenny Pickett in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That insurance has seemingly paid off, as Pickett saw his first game action after Trubisky was benched halfway through their Week 4 game against the New York Jets. Though they lost, Pickett moved the ball exceptionally well, completing 10 of 13 passes for 120 yards, three interceptions, and two rushing touchdowns.
Now that Pittsburgh has handed the reins to Pickett, will they be able to turn their season around and see their odds to win the AFC North improve?
Time for Pickett to Take Over
There are high expectations for Pickett as the first quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. He replaces Trubisky, who has had an uneventful first four games. Trubisky completed just 59.5% of his passes for 653 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In the game Trubisky was pulled, he was just 7-of-13 for 84 yards and an interception.
Pickett is the hometown kid, having played five years at the University of Pittsburgh, so the fans already have a strong connection to him (similar to James Conner). The best thing for Pickett was staying for a fifth year in 2021, which paid off big time.
In his final year at Pitt, Pickett completed 67.2% of his passes, throwing for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Pickett was named first-team All-American and was a Heisman finalist. He made big plays in a pro-style offense, as he was comfortable in the pocket and was successful throwing on the run.
It was a debut to remember – and forget – for Pickett on Sunday. Even though he punched in two touchdowns and almost led the Steelers to a comeback victory, he threw three interceptions, with his first career pass getting picked off.
Pickett enters a good situation in Pittsburgh, as even though the offense has struggled, he has plenty of targets to throw to. This could be a significant upgrade for a lot of the skill players. Wideouts Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool have the capability of being top receivers in the league. At the same time, fellow rookie George Pickens could see a significant uptick, as he led the team on Sunday with six catches for 102 yards.
Players that could also see a benefit from Pickett starting are Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris. Freiermuth had his best game against the Jets, pulling in seven receptions for 85 yards. A tight end is always a good safety blanket for a rookie quarterback. Harris also had his best performance of 2022, setting season-highs in carries (18), yards (74), and yards per carry (4.11).
The offense picked up the intensity when Pickett entered the game, as there was a fire lit under them. It seemed Trubisky had a short leash, while Pickett will likely start the rest of the season no matter how he performs. He’ll have a tough first start against Buffalo, but Pickett will show he can hold his own in the league.
Pittsburgh has found their franchise QB and will be set for the foreseeable future with Pickett at the helm.
