Steelers biting the bullet on Kenny Pickett was the right move
By Andrew Falce
The Kenny Pickett era is officially over for the Steelers, and many in the fanbase are shocked. News broke that the Eagles were making a move for him, and those reports were quickly verified. Pittsburgh lands a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks in next year's draft while the Eagles get Pickett and a fourth this year.
Like the Diontae Johnson deal, the Steelers seemingly got the short end of the stick when it came to this deal. They moved up just 22 spots on draft day while also acquiring a pair of bottom-barrell picks next year. That isn’t good value for a former first-round pick. That said, I do think this was the best move.
Steelers were wise to move on from Pickett
Say what you want about the deal, but the moment Russell Wilson was signed Pickett was going to be sent back to the bench. While the team was hyping up a quarterback competition, Wilson was the heavy favorite to win the job.
This meant that Pickett would be relegated to backup duties for his third season, and this time next year he would have essentially no trade value. The benefit of getting him now is that you have two seasons to see what you have in him. While unlikely, the Eagles can also pick up his fifth-year option if they want to.
His contract is the only thing he has going for him at this point, and that would have significantly decreased through next year. Pittsburgh is maximizing his value even if the overall compensation seems light.
There is also the speculation that Pickett wasn’t happy with being the second option and competing for the starting role. These rumors stemmed from him not dressing as the backup initially when Mason Rudolph took over. If these are true, that further added to the need to deal him away.
Next. 6 receivers the Steelers must sign to replace Diontae Johnson. 6 receivers the Steelers must sign to replace Diontae Johnson. dark
The Pickett era with the Steelers was an absolute failure across the board. While the compensation is low, wiping the slate clean while Pickett still has some value left was the right move. The Steelers get a small return on their otherwise miserable first-round investment and officially move into the Wilson era in Pittsburgh.