Report: Former Pitt QB Kenny Pickett Outperforming Eagles Starter in OTAs

The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t trade for Kenny Pickett with the expectation that he’d start any time soon. Incumbent starter Jalen Hurts is firmly entrenched as the starter, but it sounds as though Pickett is impressing early.

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Pickett to the Eagles in March, sending Pickett and a 2024 fourth round selection (No. 120) to the Eagles for a 2024 fourth round selection (No. 98) and a pair of 2025 seventh round selections. And while Pickett was acquired to provide legitimate depth behind Hurts, he’s making a name for himself during OTAs.

Pickett has actually outperformed Hurts through the early days of OTAs, according to Ed Kracz of Eagles Today, which covers the Eagles for Sports Illustrated.

“The backup quarterback looked sharp, sharper than Jalen Hurts, to be honest,” Kracz wrote. “Hurts was on the money on his first two seven-on-seven throws, hitting A.J. Brown on a quick inside slant then following up with a nice sideline throw about 15 yards downfield. Pickett, though, was consistently on target. The Eagles can win games with him if something happens to Hurts.”

Hurts is in no danger of losing his job, not after his last two seasons leading the Eagles, but Pickett is working to find his way back onto the football field sooner rather than later. He actually wanted to come to Philadelphia.

“I just thought it was time,” Pickett told the Philadelphia media after arriving in Philly. “It just felt like it was time from the things that transpired — wanted to get the chance to go somewhere and continue to grow my career. The fact that it’s in Philly, the place that I grew up, fell in love with the game here, with a great coaching staff, great players, I’m looking forward meeting all these guys in a couple of weeks.”

Pickett spent two seasons (24 starts, 25 games) as the starting quarterback for the Steelers, and it was certainly a tumultuous tenure.

Pickett threw for 4,474 yards (62.6% completion) with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his 25 games as a Steeler, and while he wasn’t put in the best situation to succeed in the NFL, his lack of production was problematic. The Steelers couldn’t just run it back in 2024 with Pickett as the unquestioned starter. According to Pickett, it wasn’t as it seemed.

Regardless, Pickett never quite found his rhythm as a starter in the NFL — be it offensive scheme, injuries or coaching decisions. In 11 games last season, he completed 201-of-324 pass attempts (62%) for 2,070 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions — adding a rushing touchdown.

He completed 245-of-389 pass attempts (63%) for 2,404 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions (adding 237 rushing yards and three more touchdowns on the ground) as a rookie. And while he did show flashes as a rookie, his progression — or lack thereof — last season was a problem. It felt like a decline.

But even through a disappointing tenure with the Steelers, Pickett reflected positively on his time in Pittsburgh.

“(I) gave everything I had there and loved all of my teammates and coaches that I came across — some absolutely great memories that I’ll take forever and lifelong friendships,” Pickett said. “And just talking to guys after it all went down, grateful that we had the time we had together.”

Pickett is happy to be in Philadelphia now, after having grown up in the area (albeit New York Giants territory in Ocean Township, N.J.), and it just so happens that he’s been watching the Eagles since he was a kid. Pickett’s dad Kenneth grew up in the area, and that fandom rubbed off. It’s, he said, a good reset.

Pickett is only a couple of seasons removed from a standout senior season at Pitt, and he should continue to hold down a spot in the NFL — either competing for a starting spot or as a backup.

With 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns, to just seven interceptions, on 334-of-497 passing attempts (67 percent) as a senior, Pickett was one of the highest-rated passers in the nation, and he added 241 yards and five more touchdowns on the ground. He finished his Pitt career as the all-time leader in passing yards, completions, total offense, touchdowns responsible for and passing touchdowns. He’s thrown the most 300-yard passing games (16) and 400-yard passing games (five) and his 32 wins are the most as a Pitt starter.

Pickett completed 1,045-of-1,674 career passing attempts (just over 62 percent) for 12,303 yards and 81 touchdowns, to just 32 interceptions. He also added 809 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in the run game in 52 career appearances (49 starts).