As expected, one of the top QB prospects will declare for the NFL Draft. Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett announced on Twitter that he won’t be playing in his upcoming bowl game as he prepares for the 2022 draft.
“I am incredibly proud to say I was a part of the team that brought back another trophy to the City of Champions,” Pickett said in his statement. “With love and gratitude, I have decided to forgo the Peach Bowl and begin training for the 2022 NFL Draft.”
Pickett put himself on the NFL map with a breakout season for the Panthers, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. The 23-year-old finished the season as a Heisman Trophy finalist, and he earned a number of accolades like the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and ACC Player of the Year.
This year’s draft class hasn’t been touted for its quarterbacks, but Pickett is a popular pick to be the first signal-caller off the board. Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently had Pickett as the first QB taken, as did ESPN’s Todd McShay. Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus had the prospect behind Matt Corral of Ole Miss. The Steelers are a popular landing spot in mock drafts for the Pitt product, and Pickett has also been listed as a potential option for WFT and the Panthers.
BuT hEs RuInInG cOllEgE fOoTbAll
Or he’s creating an opportunity for the backup QB.
You know, I’ve never found any sarcastic statement to be so much effort as to type it out like that. I guess I’m old.
Probably
The Detroit Lions need a QB but he’s not number 1 material. If he’s around later they might try to trade up for him with their second first round pick.
Not a single QB in this draft worth spending a first rounder on.
I said this somewhere else but will repeat, I’m not a Pitt fan but since I live in Pittsburgh, I’ve seen a lot of Pickett. While I would have agreed with you a year ago at this time, not anymore. The kid worked extremely hard and it won’t surprise me to see him have a great NFL career. But if the Lions are looking for an immediate, Mac Jones-like situation, yeah, you may be right.
Obviously QBs don’t pan out all the time, but what even is the knock on him at this point? Small hands?
Hoping he falls to the Steelers and hoping they are smart enough to pick him.
Yeah, it’s funny. We’ve watched this kid put in the work and dramatically improve each year. Put him on an SEC team and the talk changes dramatically. I get that the ACC isn’t at that caliber but Pickett has talent. And I agree. He already has a better skill set than the two Steeler back-ups
Yea! F those guys Kenny! You goin’ pro!
I wouldn’t draft him just due to the fact he’s a selfish person. Not a leader of a team, as a QB needs to be.
this could also be spun as he cares about his pro prospects and perhaps by association his pro team, could it not?
Isn’t it funny that so many of us look at college athletics as we did 20 years ago. Whether it’s the coaches or players at the collegiate level now, it might as well just be considered the minor leagues. It’s just a stepping stone for professional opportunities
The point is that he cares about his personal future so much that he’s literally bailing on his team for the players only playoff game of their career.
You can focus on any of the implications of that without diminishing what that says about his priorities.
Hiding from elite competition when the big concern is your ability to hold on to the ball against elite competition is a red flag for a QB you want to lead your team in addition to it costing him the ability to dispell the concern.
Super risky to play if a team is indicating they believe in him as s top 15 pick but I wouldn’t draft him in the first as a Steelers fan.
You’re mixing apples and oranges here. On one hand you say he’s bailing on his teammates and on the other, you claim he’s running away from elite competition. From a purely athletic point of view, I would agree with the former….if it were 1981. The reality of college athletics is that the sanctity of the student-athlete experience was left behind decades ago as salaries at the pro level skyrocketed. You’re looking at his decision through an old school set of lenses, when I doubt any of his coaches or teammates would agree. In fact, they’d do the same.
And the “running away from elite competition” comment is so ridiculous it doesn’t even deserve response. Seriously? So he’s opting to not play this game to join the priesthood?
No skin in the game here but if that’s my son about to become a multi millionaire I tell him to sit it out. He was loyal and played his senior season!
Super Senior Season at that.
It’s not like they are in the CFBP and he is sitting out. All other bowls are just fancy consolation prizes…
No chance if I am his father! Get that payday!
It’s the Peach Bowl calm down. If he was sitting out the CFB Playoff you may have a point, but at the end of the day all the other bowls are mere consolation prizes.
I’m sure none of his teammates care if they win. It’s really just a job right?
I’m sure all of his teammates are excited that he has the chance to be a first round pick and play at the next level. Why should he risk that for a participation trophy?
It’s not even a job, actually. More like an unpaid internship…
I understand worrying about injuries, but I would think putting in a good showing in a New Year’s Six game would improve his draft prospects.
He is touted as the top QB in the draft by two of the three guys mentioned. How exactly do you improve il upon that?
When all of the guys saying that, I guess. But as a side note, Pickett is a opulent pick to be the first WB, not necessarily the first overall pick. I’d be okay with that, personally, but I’m not a soon-to-be pro athlete.
By actually being the QB player drafted instead of thinking a couple of mock drafts quarantees your future.
What do you think happens to his draft stock if throws 4 picks, loses a fumble, and tears his ACL?
True, but why play at all? I just learned Booker T tore his triceps performing a “Spinaroonie” at his WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony back in 2013. Freak accidents can happen anywhere. Carl Lawson got injured in preseason practice. Unless he’s not going to practice or work out for teams at all between now and the draft, there’s always a risk. Yes, the bowl game is a bigger risk, but the opportunity is rare.
I’ll take the much lower risk of getting injured in the gym getting ready for the draft than getting chased around by 280lbs d-lineman any day.
The 5th year thing gives me pause, but I have a feeling he’ll be a good QB in this league. that said, I also have a feeling that he wolnt.
Giants could use him
Maybe, just maybe …. he is showing the same regard for safety by pulling a fake slide and will actually play with his team in the Peach Bowl.
I’ve been very impressed with Pickett’s play this year but if I were an NFL gm there’s no way I’d want him leading my team. What’s wrong with this generation?
While I hear what you’re saying… Willis McGehee and Jaylon Smith Are 2 names that jump to my mind whose pro careers were absolutely impacted by playing in what in reality were meaningless exhibition games… I don’t like it… it appears selfish… and while most guys don’t get hurt… it only takes one play.
If you were his father you would want him to ensure he becomes a multimillionaire! College football is a minor league system for the pros get real!
Yeah, tell that to his teammates who busted their behinds to help him get that payday. You can spin it however you want, but at the end of the day, you are picking yourself over your teammates. If you’re cool with that, cool. But don’t try to explain away the reality.
I will happily tell that to all of his teammates and I’m sure 99% of them completely support his decision and couldn’t be happier for him.
Okay, cool, go do that. I’m not so sure that number would be so high, though I am sure they’ll say so. But I digress.
In any case, I wouldn’t feel right abandoning my teammates like I was better than them. That’s just me. You can justify it however you want, and that may work for some people, but for me personally, it doesn’t. If you want to treat this like a business, do it. But don’t pretend to believe in any sort of team spirit or loyalty to something greater or any of that. It is a smart decision to skip. It is also selfish. You can’t deny any of that, so just accept it.
I deny all of that and accept nothing. As a fan I’m all for team spirit and loyalty. Athletes aren’t fans, they do this for a living and they have every right ensure their future. Is the school going to cover the millions in earnings he stands to lose if he suffered a career injury? Are his teammates? Or the “fans” like you? Spare me your faux outrage and don’t act like you have any clue in what I believe.
Again, you’re focused on the individual. This is not an individual effort. If you’re okay with that, again, fine. For me, that’s not good. I don’t like leaving my teammates behind once I’ve gotten what I need out of a situation. As for faux outrage…I’m not the one responding to every comment disagreeing with my stance on the subject. I’ve said what I have to say. Argue with someone else.
Must feel good to be such a team player bud. Not sure what you are doing here if you if didn’t come to argue you with strangers about sports. Must be new to the internet.
Honest question, do you think skipping one bowl game is a bigger disservice to your teammates than skipping your entire senior year to go pro?
The reality is that all of these college football players dream and are working towards the goal of playing in the NFL, not the ACC, SEC or Big Ten. As such his teammates are probably elated for the year he had and his future in the NFL as well as all the extra scouts that watched Pitt games this year to see Pickett play and maybe saw something in some of his teammates to keep in the back of their minds.
Literally, not one single NFL GM cares about a potential high draft pick sitting out a bowl game to get ready for the draft. If they did dozens of potential high draft picks would stop sitting out bowl games.
Skipping a bowl game is unforgivable.
I already forgave him