Steelers Take Pitt's Kenny Pickett To Be Roethlisberger's Succssor

Pittsburgh PA

29 April, 2022

8:13 AM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Steelers didn't have to go far to find a successor to recently retired quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The team on Thursday drafted University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett with their first-round selection. Here's what football writers across the country thought about the Steelers' selection: Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: "I love this pick. They take the local kid to play quarterback and he will prove to be the best quarterback in this class. Give him a few games, and he will have the job. Pickett has the tools to become a quality starter. This works in a lot of ways." Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated: "While the Steelers won't need to start Pickett right away after signing Mitchell Trubisky, he gets to continue playing his home games at Heinz Field, where he started for Pitt. He is a four-year starter who broke Deshaun Watson's ACC record for most passing touchdowns (42) in a season while cutting down on interceptions (seven) in 2021. Steve Muench, ESPN: "Day 1 starter. Pickett is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this class, and he wins the starting job in camp." Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: The Steelers got Mitchell Trubisky as a contingency bridge, but as a transitional playoff team, they were fully expected to tap into a potential rookie franchise passer with this pick. It's interesting they stuck with the local line and took Pickett despite the higher-upside Malik Willis still being on the board." Brent Slobeski, Bleacher Report: "Pickett will be 24 years old before he ever plays a meaningful NFL snap. His first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Panthers were rather forgettable. However, his redshirt senior campaign was a far different story." Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.