Steelers agree to terms with first-round pick Kenny Pickett on rookie deal

Some Pittsburgh Steelers fans were noticeably surprised to learn Wednesday that rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett was the final unsigned first-round selection from the 2022 NFL Draft. 

There was little to worry about at the time, and there's now no story. 

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero (h/t Kevin Patra), the Steelers agreed to terms with Pickett. The contract is a four-year deal that comes with a standard fifth-year option, and Austin Bechtold of Pittsburgh Sports Now notes that the agreement is estimated to be worth slightly over $14 million ($14,067,905) and includes a signing bonus of roughly $7.4 million. 

It was previously suggested Pickett remained unsigned through the start of summer because his camp may have been searching for a larger signing bonus. Exact details of the contract could be revealed at a later time. 

Free-agent acquisition Mitchell Trubisky is widely viewed as a massive favorite to win the Pittsburgh starting job following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger, and Pickett reportedly "has an uphill battle to unseat" Trubisky this summer. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette declared he believes "Trubisky will go into the regular season as the starter," and it's thought Pittsburgh could look to trade signal-caller Mason Rudolph either during or after the preseason so Pickett can enter September as the club's primary backup. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said during a recent podcast appearance he is "excited about being uncomfortable" regarding the quarterback situation. Some believe those words hint that Tomlin will hold a legitimate competition beginning in training camp next month and won't simply anoint Trubisky as Roethlisberger's immediate successor.