Ex-GM defends Steelers’ Kenny Pickett draft pick despite bust status

Quarterback Kenny Pickett came to the Pittsburgh Steelers with plenty of hype after the franchise used the No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on him. However, he lasted just two years with the franchise.

At the time, Kevin Colbert was the Steelers general manager. To him, Pickett’s selection still made perfect sense, via Jack Markowski of Sports Illustrated.

“We projected Kenny to be a start-and-win NFL quarterback, and quite honestly, he lived up to that in his first two seasons with us,” Colbert said. “For us, he was 14-10 and trending in the right direction. So that’s what we thought we had in Kenny.”

“Kenny’s a great young man,” he continued. “He’s a great competitor. And I still think at a young age, I still think Kenny can continue to build on what he did with us in those first two seasons.”

While Pickett did go 14-10 over his two years in Pittsburgh, he threw for 4,953 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He failed to secure the long-term QB1 role for the Steelers and was ultimately dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles.

After one year there, the quarterback was then traded to the Cleveland Browns before being dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders. Overall, he has appeared in 36 games at the NFL level, starting 27 of them. He has gone 16-11 overall, throwing for 4,953 yards, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Pickett signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers over the season and will now be Bryce Young’s backup. If an injury were to arise, he would have an opportunity to prove himself again. Colbert would be watching and wouldn’t be shocked if Pickett earned a starting job again down the line.

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