The Ben Roethlisberger-era is over for the Steelers. In comes Kenny Pickett from nearby University of Pittsburgh, selected with the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. 
The long-awaited conclusion to the debate of which quarterback would be selected first finally ends in historic fashion, as this is the latest we’ve seen a draft go without any quarterback selections since 1997, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Picket is the first quarterback off the board over Liberty’s Malik Willis and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, as well as some other contenders.
Pickett’s statistics in his last year exploded off the page as he threw for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, adding 233 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Pickett had a prolific season, leading the Panthers to their first ever ACC Championship. He was named a first-team All-American and finished 3rd in Heisman voting, taking advantage of a rare opportunity due to COVID-19 granting him a fifth year of eligibility.
Pickett is the latest Panther to walk across the campus and join the Steelers’ organization, as running back James Conner did in 2017.
Lol. Good luck with that.
Weaknesses: Small hands, limited production until fifth college season, limited physical traits.
Strengths: Already knows his way to the stadium.
He played at Pitt, wtf do you want for production? You are an idiot.
I wanted him to play better against ACC competition?
I’m a Clemson fan, and I’m pretty sure he put up better numbers than Watson, Boyd, and Lawrence
Only Pickett’s fifth college season was close to the level of Watson or Lawrence, and Pickett was a couple years older for that season than those guys were when they entered the NFL.
Hey also had the biletnikoff winner on his team last year and a semi decent running back and supporting cast and wasn’t that productive too. Sounds like somebody is coping it’s okay TJ you’ll have a new QB in a couple years maybe he’ll be good
lot of haters . I love it .
Pickett v Mitch is the best competition in football
….also no one good left at other positions to draft at 20
No one good left? Come on.
steelers need WR, QB & Dt .
no WRs picked after 20
one DT (Wyatt) who’s more of a 4-3 DT, not what the steelers need in a 3-4
can make the argument for Cine who went 32. but taking a Safety at 20 is wayyy more ridiculous than a (let’s call him an average QB)
Marino went 27, Rodgers 28, Lamar 32, not to mention guys like Brady, Dak & Wilson mid rounds
Face it, Pickett can run and throw , but the best thing he has going for him is he wasn’t drafted by the Lions or Jets
imagine trusting a system that’s seen Matt Leinart, Sam Darnold, Tim Couch & Baker Mayfield get great grades
Alex Smith “best QB workout of all time”..
I’ll go with the GM who took Roethlisberger at 11’s opinion ..
just sayin
He also took a running back in the first round last year even though they desperately needed line help. Accomplished GMs make mistakes too.
he drafted a center and LT who both started last season.
also no one knew Decastro was going to retire all randomly after the draft
reports are that the org was very unhappy with Decastros handling of the situation.
plus Najee is an absolute stud.. well worth it to have him next 5 years
I approve. 3 years at the most.
31 Browns Starting QBs since 99’???
I approve. Hahahahaha
Browns won a playoff game more recently than the Steelers, and have a better QB for the next 10 years. What was your argument again?
Cute, the Browns won a playoff game.
You do realize that the Steelers have 4 Super Bowl appearances and 2 Lombardi’s since the Browns previously last playoff win, right?
Steeler fans love to live in the past. All about the future in Cleveland. You guys better hang onto those dusty trophies, won’t be adding to the case anytime soon.
All about the future in Cleveland and always will be.
Cleveland catch phrase. Maybe next year.
Lol! Browns have no Lombardi’s to dust off.
Its always about the future in Cleveland because your boys usually can’t hack it in the North.
I’ll take real Lombardi’s over theoretical ones any day.
My bad, I forgot that playoff game was your super bowl. Wouldn’t expect anything less from a clowns fan. And your “10 year investment” is fully guaranteed without knowing whether he’ll be suspended or not. Somehow cleveland will still find a way to ruin his career. Enjoy it buddy
Sure….a quarterback with a off field resume a mile long who probably won’t play much if at all in 2022. Not to mention decimating their future draft choices in the process. Hell…..they’d BETTER win, but I doubt it.
Colbert is the master of sitting patiently and still getting the player he wanted.
He’s not Burrow or Herbert, but not seeing how he’s any worse a QB prospect than Tua, Lance, Fields, Jones, Wilson or any of the other non-superstar #1 picks of recent years.
Pickett is the same age as Tua and wasn’t really good in college until Tua’s second year in the NFL.
pick wayyyyy more athletic than Tua
never saw Tua roll out of the pocket or make big runs in college
terrible comparison
Pickett is just a smaller Ben
You call him a smaller Ben and a bigger Russell in this thread. Amazing.
well one is bigger and one is smaller…
both similar qbs who make plays outside the pocket
I don’t think Pickett is nearly the athlete either guy was coming out. Pickett is going to need to get the ball out a lot faster or he’s meat.
athleticism I’d actually say is similar .
I’ll agree on the quick release if you’re saying he’s not a 3 step drop qb… yet.
watch some highlights, the guys a smooth operator who excells off play action
most importantly this is a guy who’s mentally willing to get better and learn.
.. not a uh blame my OC Mayfield or seeing ghosts on the sidelines Darnold…
Pickett could step in right now and be a top 30 qb .. he’ll have at least 4 games if not an entire season or 2 to learn
You can pretend he has the athletic traits of either of those guys until you see him against NFL players. He has Ben’s 40 time while 25 pounds lighter.
Worst draft pick in Pittsburgh since will Craig
Disagree, but the Will Craig reference is solid, FWIW.
people either love or hate this pick
I think it’s amazing.. this guy has every tool to succeed
think Pickett can be a taller version of Russell Wilson
C’mon why ya gotta go and bring that up.
nice story
I think Pickett will do just fine. There’s time for him to sit and learn if need be. The key is going to be tempering expectations. We don’t need Ben Roethlisberger or Terry Bradshaw, we just need the best Kenny Pickett we can get.
I think one of the main reason’s the Steelers drafted Pickett is because of the death of Dwayne Haskins who the Steelers were looking at to be Roethlisberger’s replacement.
I highly doubt they were THAT confident in Haskins.
They were very high on Dwayne Haskins & it was known before he was killed in a traffic accident
They gave Trubisky a 2 year deal. I dont think they were all that high on Haskins. And this comes after continuously starting mason rudolph ahead of haskins whenever roethlisberger was out.
They’re not excited about Trubisky & he will only be a place holder. Keep in mind just because a team signs a player doesn’t mean that they think that player is the long term answer
Love the selection and somewhat surprised they made it. Head and shoulders above the others here and most polished. Having watched this kid for the past couple years and the amount of work he put in to improve, it was a no brainer
Kid is a hard worker for sure. Confident he’ll reach his ceiling, but time will tell if it’s high enough to win a ‘ship.
People say “he’s no Dan Marino” but Pickett broke Marino’s Pitt records.
When Dan Marino was the age Kenny Pickett was last season, he won the NFL MVP.
Give it a rest dude, he’s 23 not 35. QB’s play until they’re 35+ these days.
I don’t care if he plays 8 years, 10 years, 12 or 15. Success in Pittsburgh is measured in Lombardi’s, period. If he manages to guide the squad to even 1 its a home run of a pick.
Enjoy screaming into the wind about old man Pickett though. Beautiful way to spend a sunny Saturday!
He’ll be 24 his whole rookie season. If it weren’t for the extra year of eligibility for COVID, he’d be in the XFL.
Yeah and if your Aunt had balls she’d be your uncle
Well, good thing Pittsburgh gets the fifth year option, in case that’d how many seasons he takes to have a very good one at this level too.
And we know how Druckenmiller worked out…..
Best 40 year old QB drafted since Brandon Weeden
None of the knocks on Pickett (his hands, the quality of the QB class overall, his age, etc.) have anything to do with his ability to throw, move in the pocket or read a D.
He seems to be able to do all of those well.
People salivated over Tua for years, meanwhile he’s a fidget with a goofy throwing motion hidden behind a big program.
The only thing I do know about Pickett (from listening to PGH area sports radio) is that he’s won big games against teams he had no business beating…AKA he has moxie.
Probably no more important trait in a winning NFL QB.
Yeah, agree. Watched the kid during his time at Pitt. Watched his development and the work he put in to improve. Reminds me a lot of Burrow. Only concern was the competition he faced in the ACC but if history proves anything, too flight quarterbacks are just a different breed and I think he fits the bill
All of the pro days that were presented on the NFL Network afforded fans the opportunity to see the various options. To me, this was a no-brainer. Pickett was polished where other guys are projects. And let’s be reasonable, the Steelers are more in the hunt for a guy who can step in quickly rather than waiting a couple years.
Watched enough of Willis to understand why many are lauding him. He’s athletic. He has a nice arm And he fits in with what many think is the new prototype for NFL QB
But I think the Steelers did well with this pick and that Pickett is the kind of fiery leader they need
He’s gonna have to stop taking three seconds to throw or he’s gonna be their flattened leader.
Oooof you forget we are accustomed to seeing Roethlisberger hold it for 7+ seconds every snap
Really thought they were going Willis. In a decision with Cleve and Balt. Thought there was more upside. Long ball and tuck it.
6 foot qb from liberty…
I’d take Howell, Ridder and Corral over him
guess we’ll find out today
All you gotta do is call 634-5789 if you think the Steelers drafted the wrong Pickett.
Baker Mayfield was a first overall pick.
What does Baker Mayfield do better than Pickett?
From what I see Pickett is bigger, more mobile and has as good or better of an arm.
But because there is no Mahomes or Watson being drafted behind him, Pickett is a lesser prospect than Mayfield?