5 NFL rookies that could disappoint fans in 2022 season
NFL rookie that could disappoint no. 1: Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers
Steelers. Kenny Pickett. 1. 55. Scouting Report. QB. Pick Analysis. player
The Pittsburgh Steelers took the same approach to the quarterback position in the 2022 NFL Draft as we saw from the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft.
In 2021, the Patriots simply sat and waited at their pick in the middle of round one for Alabama’s Mac Jones to fall into their laps. As a result of their patience, the Patriots got a great system fit at quarterback and they were able to keep their additional picks for the remainder of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ approach with Kenny Pickett can be viewed in a very similar way. On one side, you could argue that the Steelers were okay with not having Pickett because they didn’t move up to get him. On the other hand, the Steelers made Pickett the QB1 of the 2022 NFL Draft and along with that come some pretty high expectations.
Should those expectations be tempered, though?
Are the Steelers actually planning on going into the 2022 NFL season with Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback? Although depth charts at this time of year mean absolutely nothing, Pickett was listed third at QB on the Steelers’ first depth chart. He’ll work his way up to QB2 at the very least by the time the season starts, but how quickly will he be QB1?
How committed to Trubisky are the Steelers?
Even if Pickett is able to get on the field right away, he should be afforded every opportunity to go out and make mistakes just like any other rookie quarterback. Pickett is talented but he is also somewhat of a one-year wonder at the college level. Can he keep progressing after what we saw from him at Pitt last year? Can he just step right into the gauntlet that is the AFC North and help the Steelers have success?
If Steelers fans are expecting Pickett to do what Ben Roethlisberger did as a young QB, they might be extremely disappointed.