Ever since the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he's been an instant fan favorite. His success at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a four-year starter, obviously helped. Pickett was able to just flip to the other side of the facility in Pittsburgh, making it an easy transition for both sides. It only took a game or two before fans began to chant his name, calling for a benching of veteran QB Mitch Trubisky.
When Pickett eventually took over, everything changed. Sure, the team improved, as they went 7-5 in his 12 starts in 2022. Beyond that though, all you heard was the shift in energy when he took over in the huddle. For a rookie, everyone was impressed with his confidence and command for the huddle. It's why, despite a mostly uninspiring stat line for his first season, fans see him as the true answer for the team's next franchise quarterback.
What about Steelers QB Pickett makes you confident for future?
He's handled everything with pure class and poise since taking over the reigns from Trubisky, and before that, Ben Roethlisberger. Just over a month ago, Pickett gathered all of the team's offensive playmakers, along with Trubisky, to work out in Florida together. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's those moments where chemistry is built and such, something the Steelers teams have lacked at times over the past few years.
It's those kind of things that makes people confident that Pickett is the one. It has just as much to do with his off-the-field attributes as it does with his accuracy and other on-field traits. Entering his second season, he'll be expected to take a leap forward and hopefully, result in a trip back to the postseason for Pittsburgh. Via Teresa Varley of Steelers.com, the QB1 has zero doubts on whether or not he's the guy to bring Lombardi trophies back to the city.
"I want to be one of the best. I know what I have to do and there's a lot of things that we need to do as a team to get us to our goals. I feel like it all starts with me and my play. I've got to be the guy that takes us there. I'm ready to take it on," Pickett said via Varley's article.
Steelers fans will love those comments. Pickett brought an uncanny energy to the Steelers huddle in 2022, even if the results didn't show right away. He showed progression as well, mostly his ability to eliminate costly turnovers in the final month or so of the season. It didn't end in a playoff spot for the black and gold, but with a revitalized roster this off-season, they seemed primed to make a run in 2023 with Pickett leading the charge.
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