Second year quarterback Kenny Pickett started against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Steelers’ opening preseason game and he looked incredible.
Pickett only played one drive and went 6/7 on passing for 70 yards and a touchdown. What impressed necessarily his numbers, but how comfortable he looked on every snap. How accurately he was able to throw rolling left or right and how easily he was fitting the ball into tight spaces.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are always an easy bet to make it into the playoffs. They have one of the best coaches in the league Mike Tomlin and their defense is almost always in the top 10. Their only real question going into next season was how well could Kenny Pickett develop and is good enough to lead this team going forward.
Even though it is just preseason and it was just one drive, Kenny Pickett’s performance in that drive was enough to fill any Steelers fan with optimism heading into next season.
Going into year two, Pickett is in the best possible place to succeed. A head coach that likes to give his young players a platform to express themselves, an elite running back to help take the pressure off, and most importantly a plethora of weapons to choose from. George Pickens who he hit for a 33-yard touchdown against the Bucs, Diontae Johnson who Pickett had a good connection with in 2022, and new addition Allen Robinson who will look to bounce back from a down year with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. He also has tight end Pat Freiermuth who is becoming one of the more reliable tight ends in the league.
Provided the Steelers defense can remain to dominate and Kenny Pickett continues to improve and look as good as he did, there is no reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers not to be in the mix in the AFC.