Pittsburgh Steelers need to name Kenny Pickett starter

The Pittsburgh Steelers took Kenny Pickett in the first round of the draft and after two preseason games, it’s clear he needs to be the starter

Quarterbacks have often dominated the first round of the NFL Draft but in 2022, that wasn’t the case. Only one signal-caller was selected this spring on opening night, and that was Kenny Pickett who was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Saturday, Pickett made his second appearance of the preseason for the Steelers, and it’s already clear that he’s ready to start in the NFL.

Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pickett was 6-of-7 passing and threw a touchdown pass to Benny Snell.

In Week 1 against the Steelers, Pickett made his debut and completed 13-of-15 passes for 95 yards with two touchdowns, his second being a game-winner.

With the score knotted up at 25, Pickett moved them into the end zone on just five plays while covering 43 yards in just 1:07. On that drive, he scrambled twice for 12 yards and completed both his passing attempts, including a 24-yard touchdown to Tyler Vaughns for the win.

Kenny Pickett already looks like a starter for the Steelers

As for his overall stat line, Pickett is now 19-of-22 with 222 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks in two appearances. But the numbers aren’t as important as the way he already has command of the offense.

A product of the Pittsburgh Panthers, Pickett already has a huge fan base in the city and saw many of his teammates show up to his debut. What they saw was the same player they knew at Pitt — someone who has insane confidence, can read a defense, and makes quick decisions.

He might not have a rocket arm but he has the intangibles and would be an ideal replacement for Ben Roethlisberger who retired after an 18-year career.