Kenny Pickett Discusses Transition From Steelers to Eagles
When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected former University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he was hailed as the potential savior of the franchise. Pickett had excelled with the Panthers, which earned him a first-round selection. The retirement of long-time star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the 2021 season left a vacancy that Pickett was expected to fill.
In his rookie season, Pickett had a decent start, throwing for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions. While not overly impressive, he showed flashes of potential. However, by his second season, the Steelers’ confidence in Pickett waned. Over 12 games, the former first-round pick threw for 2,070 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. His performance was not significantly better than his rookie year, and his development was slower than Pittsburgh had hoped.
This offseason, the Steelers decided they had seen enough and traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite being seen as the franchise’s savior, Pickett’s tenure with the Steelers was short-lived. However, he has welcomed the new opportunity. In an interview with Ben Istvan of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pickett discussed the transition.
“Change is a great thing,” Pickett said. “I’m going through it right now. I was in Pittsburgh for seven years, and now I’m over in Philadelphia… I think a lot of people probably have some negative views on change, but that’s really just your outlook on it. I think if you keep a positive mindset, it’ll all work out for the better.”
The pressure on Pickett as the star quarterback at the University of Pittsburgh followed him into the NFL. Teams expect quick development from first-round quarterbacks, and Pickett’s time with the Steelers didn’t pan out as hoped. Nonetheless, he remains talented and eager to prove himself with the Eagles.
“The world has enough doubters,” Pickett said. “There are plenty of people doubting. That’s probably the majority of people out there in the media and fan bases. But … coaches, family members, if you turn your mind around and try and prove them right and what they believe in you, you’ll be in a more positive mindset.”
In Philadelphia, Pickett will back up star quarterback Jalen Hurts, with the Eagles hoping he won’t need to take the field unless it’s a blowout. The experience and humility Pickett has gained could benefit his career. This is a chance for him to start fresh and see how he can extend his NFL journey, learning and growing along the way.
