There is no bigger topic around football right now than the NFL Draft. We are now just six days away from the most-watched offseason event in all of sports, and with three selections inside the top 50 picks this year, Pittsburgh Steelers fans have a right to be excited.
However, we are going to set aside draft talk for just a bit this Friday. The latest Steelers news revolves around the important stuff, like Kenny Pickett's new physique and the return of a giant red ketchup bottle to Acrisure Stadium.
Steelers news:
Very early in the offseason, Kenny Pickett expressed his desire to add muscle mass to his frame during his first full offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It didn't take him long to accomplish this. According to his personal quarterback coach, Tony Racioppi, Pickett has bulked up from 213 pounds at the end of the 2022 season to 226 pounds today. Racioppi joined 93.7 The Fan to talk about this change made by the second-year quarterback.
Did Kenny Pickett put on some weight this offseason? Kenny's personal QB guru says "he sure did."
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) April 20, 2023
Full segment: https://t.co/b9tct3UYax pic.twitter.com/LbyA6RMJQI
Pickett was whiplashed at times last year, and this ultimately resulted in the rookie QB suffering two concussions in his first NFL season. Because of his somewhat reckless play style, Pickett will still subject himself to big hits from time to time, but he's hoping his new muscle mass will help soften the blow and improve his ability as a runner. Racioppi thinks this is a good size for him and claims that he doesn't need to get much bigger or try to play in the 235-pound range.
More Steelers news:
Steelers fans who overreacted to the stadium name change will be glad to learn that the giant Heinz ketchup bottle is returning to Acrisure Stadium. Stadium crew members hung the massive 35-foot bottle outside of Gate C this week, per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Steelers will continue their partnership with Heinz, but it is Acrisure who holds the naming rights after paying over $10 million for a contract that spans over 15 years. Still, the return of the recently refurbished bottle gives yinzers all the more reason to keep calling the stadium 'Heinz Field.'
NFL news:
NFL Network analyst and former NFL running back, Maurice Jones-Drew, conducted his first 2023 NFL mock draft yesterday which included a few surprises. In addition to having Florida QB Anthony Richardson going to the Panthers with the first overall pick, MJD had Tyree Wilson going ahead of Will Anderson.
With the 17th overall pick, Jones-Drew has the Steelers selecting Tennessee OT Darnell Wright -- noting the need for a physical offensive tackle. Wright is a player who has been gaining steam in connection to Pittsburgh since his recent pre-draft visit with the team.