NFL Insider Shares Details Of Kenny Pickett’s New Contract

Meirov tweeted, “#Steelers officially signed rookie QB Kenny Pickett to his fully-guaranteed 4-year, $14M rookie contract. He gets $7.4M via a signing bonus + a fifth-year team option. All 32 first-round picks are now under contract.”

The details of his deal are right within Spotrac’s estimates.

Aside from being the last first-rounder to sign a contract, Pickett was the only quarterback selected in round one of the 2022 NFL Draft.

He came off an impressive senior season with the Panthers, finishing with 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns.

He also added five rushing touchdowns in 13 games.

More importantly, he led the Panthers to an 11-2 record and won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship over Wake Forest.

Pickett also became a First-Team All-American, First-Team All-ACC, and ACC Player of the Year in 2021.

Pickett Will Compete For The Starting Role

The Steelers have high hopes for Pickett as they envision him being the rightful successor to Ben Roethlisberger.

However, he will have to fight for the starting quarterback role against Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky.

The Steelers signed Trubisky to a two-year deal after his lone season with the Buffalo Bills.

The franchise is in an enviable situation if Pickett blossoms into a solid starter.

That’s easier said than done, especially in a division that has Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow.