Steelers involved in a NFL Draft rumor surrounding Kenny Pickett

We all know the Steelers passed on Pitt’s Dan Marino in 1983 which is perhaps one of the biggest draft blunders in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

In Marino’s case, projections had him going much earlier in the 1983 draft, which he might have done. Yet, the Colts, who could have drafted him, passed for some inexplicable reason, then the Chiefs drafted Todd Blackledge. In total, five quarterbacks went ahead of Marino.

Why Didn’t the Steelers draft Dan Marino?

There has been no shortage of reasons trying to explain why he fell so far in the draft. Reasons range from a deep quarterback class that produced three NFL Hall of Fame inductees to a poor senior season, and his play style.

However, another more sinister reason probably caused his fall more than any other. Very close to the draft, a rumor began circulating about Marino and possible drug use. The rumors ranged from marijuana to cocaine. Marino denied using drugs, so no one knows. His agent Marv Demoff first heard them giving him pause for concern. Then the rumors filtered down to the media. Chuck Noll finally admitted in 1992 in an AP interview that he declined to draft Marino over the rumors.

Where the rumors started, no one knows. Urban legend has it that the rumors started with the Miami Dolphins hoping that teams would pass, allowing him to fall to the Dolphins. Pitt Coach Foge Fazio hinted in a 1984 New York Times article that disgruntled gamblers may have started the rumor because Pitt failed to cover the spread in several games.

Regardless, it caused the Steelers to pass on Marino, but now there is an equally intriguing story with Kenny Pickett. Sure the Steelers have had a close eye on him, and he is on their draft shortlist. In 1983 Steelers fans would have loved to have Marino follow in Bradshaw’s footsteps. It didn’t happen. However, in 2022 Kenny Pickett could be the eventual heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger. Steelers fans would surely go nuts.

Steelers only sold on Kenny Pickett?

So possibly then, is that the root of the latest rumor which now circulates around Pickett and the Steelers? As reported by ESPN’s Matt Miller, speculation is that the only quarterback they will take is Kenny Pickett. However, if he is not available, the rumor has expanded to if Pickett is not available, the Steelers will take an offensive tackle.

This is not the first time reporters have broken a story that had no basis. The first obvious question is, did he get the information from a credible source within the Steelers organization? If he did, one would have to assume someone is feeding him some malarkey. Why say hey, we are taking Pickett and blab it to the media unless you intend to go after Willis or Ridder.

However, a more peculiar part of the story is the notion that the Steelers will take an offensive tackle if Pickett is not available at 20. We know that quarterbacks Willis, Ridder, Pickett, Corrall, Howell with safeties Hamilton, Hill, and Cine are on the Steelers shortlist along with Jameson Williams WR, Devonte Wyatt DL, Nakobe Dean LB, and Andrew Booth CB.

Notice anything odd? Not one of the players is an offensive tackle. Furthermore, discount that for a second and look at the mock drafts teams drafting ahead of the Steelers select Pickett at least  60% of the time; it does not take a genius to figure that if you want Pickett, you would have to trade up.

There is a lot you could read into this. Is the info given to Miller designed to deceive other teams in that they will not trade up for Pickett? Or are they really laying a smokescreen to hide their genuine quarterback interest? Perhaps this is someone’s misguided attempt to accomplish in 2022 what the Steelers did not do in 1983? Or is this someone’s attempt to prevent the Steelers from taking Pickett?

They say history repeats itself; who would have thought we would see a rumor mill start around Pickett so close to the draft. We have three days until the draft begins, and if anything else, it adds a little drama. Then perhaps in another 39 years, people will debate whether the Steelers did the right thing in this draft around the hometown hero.