Steelers Quarterback Kenny Pickett Fails To Crack PFF's List Of Team's Top-3 Players To Build Around

The Pittsburgh Steelers were fortunate to have elite-level play from the quarterback position during Ben Roethlisberger's 18-year career. With second-year signal caller, Kenny Pickett, poised to firmly establish himself as a worthy replacement to Roethlisberger, the Steelers feel as if they're in a position this upcoming season to challenge for a playoff spot. General Manager, Omar Khan, has done an exceptional job of surrounding Pickett with talent on the offensive side of the ball and has brought in new players who will help fill positions of need defensively. 

One would think that Pickett's level of play during his rookie campaign would warrant him being one of the Steelers' most critical foundational pieces going into 2023. However, a recent Pro Football Focus article entitled, "Three Players To Build Around For Every AFC Team," by Brad Spielberger would say otherwise. Instead of Pickett, Spielberger lists T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Diontae Johnson. 

Both Watt and Fitzpatrick make a ton of sense as the All-Pro defensive players are still in the prime of their careers and are under contract with the Steelers for the foreseeable future. Johnson, on the other hand, is not as much of a slam dunk. While the former third-round pick has exceeded expectations during his time in Pittsburgh, he has yet to prove that he is fully capable of being a WR1. After failing to score a single touchdown in 2022, combined with his struggles in dropping the football, the argument could be made that a number of different players, including Pickett, are better suited to build around. 

Which Steelers Offensive Player Deserves To Join Watt And Fitzpatrick On The List? 

As Spielberger points out, Johnson is an electrifying player who is dangerous once he gets the ball in his hands. 

"Diontae Johnson still deals with the occasional drop, but they are more than negated by his acrobatic snags and how consistently he creates separation in the intermediate areas of the field. Johnson’s 42 missed tackles forced over the past three seasons rank sixth among wide receivers," said Spielberger.

There is no denying that Johnson will be an integral part of the Steelers passing attack in 2023, but it may be possible that his role as the team's best pass catcher is taken over by George Pickens, or perhaps even Pat Freiermuth. Both players developed an immediate connection with Pickett in 2022 and will be looking to increase their productivity this upcoming season. Pickens' 801 receiving yards this past season was second on the team to Johnson's 882. Could Pickens be the team leader in 2023? Certainly possible, as he his far more of a threat compared to Johnson in terms of big-play ability.