If you traveled back in time to this point last season, many would've called you foolish for saying Kenny Pickett would be out of Pittsburgh at this point. Yes, he wasn't showing any signs of improvement, but the Steelers normally refuse to move on from a first-round pick quickly. Everyone still imagined Pickett would get the benefit of the doubt, even after he was benched.
Once the season ended, it became evident that the black and gold wanted to rebuild the quarterback room behind Pickett. No one thought signing Russell Wilson in free agency would become a realistic possibility, but it happened. Pickett showed signs of unhappiness in Pittsburgh when he got benched, and that frustration only stacked higher once Wilson was brought onto the team.
Pickett requested a trade and his days in Pittsburgh were over. It all happened so fast, but the black and gold were not afraid to move on from Pickett. They figured maybe he could learn from a veteran player like Wilson and grow. He didn't want to do that, and he remains a backup player with the Eagles with little hope of ever gaining control of a starting NFL quarterback job again.
Steelers thank Russell Wilson for making Kenny Pickett disappear
Although Wilson had a slow start to his Steelers tenure, it has been great ever since his health progressed back to normal. Many were wondering at the time if Mike Tomlin was making the right choice at quarterback since Justin Fields had played efficiently enough to get Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record to start the year. Tomlin stuck with his guns, and his choice of Wilson has been great.
Wilson has taken the Steelers offense to new heights ever since his original start back in Week 7. As the Steelers head down a tough streak of games in the second half of their schedule, Wilson seems prepared to lead the offense. He brings a certain aura with him that the black and gold have been missing. He might not be perfect, but Wilson is not afraid to take shots and lead his team in dicey situations.
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Pickett on the other hand has been getting worse since he left Pittsburgh. Many were excited when the Steelers drafted him, but the once hometown product has only tarnished his reputation with the city since leaving. Even when he went to a Pitt Panthers game this year, the crowd welcomed him with a healthy set of boos. He was a great player for Pitt, but Pittsburgh is run by the Steelers.
Since joining the Eagles, Pickett has barely been able to hold onto his backup job. Rumors were out there during the preseason that Pickett could get demoted to the third-string spot. Politics in the NFL are real, and since Philadelphia gave up trade assets for Pickett, they had to keep him there. There is no doubt that the Steelers made the right choice with Wilson and it's paying off big time.