According to the NFLPA, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the biggest ‘rising star’ from the 2022 NFL Draft class. Here’s what that means for Kenny Pickett.
Steelers fans are hoping that first-round quarterback, Kenny Pickett, is going to be a star in the making. However, go on social media for a few minutes and it’s very easy to see that there are an array of opinions on Pickett and what to expect from him in the future.
The differences of opinions are justified. During his first four seasons in college, Pickett occasionally flashed, but the overall performance was rather underwhelming. From a statistical standpoint, he did nothing to set himself apart — never earning more than 13 passing touchdowns in a season until his final year, via Sports Reference.
In 2021, however, Pickett had a breakout campaign that ultimately led to him being a first-round selection. While it remains to be seen if this progression will continue, there’s no doubt the former Pitt Panther landed with a great organization.
When it came time for the NFLPA to release their 2022 Rising Stars List, I wasn’t surprised to see Kenny Pickett at the top. Pickett was ranked ahead of all other rookies because the Rising Stars list isn’t just a list of players poised to have a good season. It is also a list of players most likely to gain fan support and to rank among the top sellers of merchandise.
Steelers QB has a leg up on the competition
As a first-round quarterback, Pickett is going to be given every opportunity to succeed. But why should he be the top rookie listed on the NFLPA’s Rising Stars list? Let’s break down each factor considered.
To start with, Pickett could be poised for a breakout season — assuming he wins the starting job at some point this year. While Pittsburgh’s offensive line certainly hasn’t been spectacular, it should be somewhat improved after the additions of James Daniels and mason Cole in free agency and the return of Kevin Dotson from IR.
Likewise, an array of talented skill players should give Pickett plenty of options in the passing game when he does eventually take the stage. As a quarterback, Pickett already has as a leg up on the Rookie of the Year competition — assuming he can see the field sooner rather than later.
In terms of fan support, Pickett should have just about as much as anyone. Considering that he is a player fans watched over the past five years at Pitt and now gets to stay in the same City he has played for all this time, it makes for quite the story.
Because he went to a prestigious organization with a history of first-round QB success and a dedicated fanbase, I would expect Pickett to be at the top of this list in terms of merchandise sales. His jerseys should be flying off the shelves in no time.
It’s possible that dozens of players from the 2022 NFL Draft class prove to be better football players at the next level, but when it comes to identifying rookies who could have a breakout year, will have ample fan support, and should help sell lots of merchandise, Pickett is the easy selection to earn the number one rank among rookies on the NFLPA’s Rising Stars List.