As former Steelers great Terry Bradshaw likes to say “I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.” And when it comes to Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, he thinks it’s silliness to look for someone else.
For one, Bradshaw is a huge fan of the Steelers starter, who presumably heads into his third year as QB1
“I love Pickett,” Bradshaw said during an interview this week on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “I know him well. He’s fiercely competitive. He’s a tough-minded kind. Things don’t bother him. I really like him a lot.”
Bradshaw says he wants his starting quarterback to keep his wits about him on the field. That’s his main criteria. Talent around him takes care of the rest.
“Kenny’s got the poise,” Bradshaw told Eisen. “I just want my quarterback to be poised. If he’s poised, then his brain’s gonna be calm, he’s going to see the coverages, he’s going to be quick with his decision making. And Pickett has all of that.”
And the Steelers also have talent surrounding Pickett. It was the same for Mason Rudolph, who finished the season at quarterback. The Steelers have a strong running game in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. George Pickens and Diontae Johnson can be excellent wideouts. And tight end Pat Freiermuth can block and catch. The key offensive pieces are there for Pickett, or any other quarterback for that matter.
Earlier this month, the chatter concerned whether the Steelers would add Justin Fields if the Bears dealt him before the NFL Draft. But now it looks like Fields wants the Falcons if Chicago gets rid of him to select Caleb Williams. Then there’s Kirk Cousins. He’s about to be a free agent, but wants to stay in Minnesota. If the Vikings don’t fully guarantee the money in their final contract offer, will Cousins skip out town and head to Pittsburgh? There has even been chatter about Russell Wilson headed to Steel City.
Bradshaw, who won four Super Bowl rings during his time in Pittsburgh, stressed, again, that the Steelers should stay status quo when it comes to Pickett, their first-round pick from 2022.
“You don’t need Fields,” Bradshaw told Eisen. “Stay with what you got. Just build (Pickett) up. Get him another receiver. Give him an explosive tight end. Give him another tackle, give him a guard. Have the ability to protect him. And give him guys on the outside. This is a passing league, now. Get him people out there that can run and catch the football that are smart.”
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