Should Steelers reunite Kenny Pickett with former teammate?

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Should Steelers reunite QB Kenny Pickett with former college teammate?

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 1/17/23

Now that the Steelers' offseason has officially begun, talks of how the 17th overall pick will be used have ramped up. The latest idea is reuniting QB Kenny Pickett with his favorite target from college.

WR Jordan Addison has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and Pittsburgh will certainly be doing its homework on him.

Pickett and Addison were quite the duo at Pitt, connecting 100 times for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2021. Addison transferred to USC in 2022 but had a much less productive season without his Pitt quarterback.

The connection between Pickett and Addison was undeniable, and the pairing of college teammates has proven to work. Bengals QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase have been electric since their reunion in the NFL.

Has anyone trumpeting the idea of reuniting Addison and Pickett to create a Burrow/Chase dynamic considered the notion that a major reason the two guys in Cincy work so well is because they were good enough to be the top overall pick and the fifth overall pick, respectively?
— Chris Mueller (@ChrisMuellerPGH) January 16, 2023

The Steelers could go a number of different ways with their first-round pick. Offensive line and cornerback are positions of great need as well, which has raised the question if a receiver is really the top need.

The team did trade WR Chase Claypool to the Bears midseason, so the receiver room is a little thin. Pittsburgh could use another addition before the 2023 season, but will it come at No. 17?

Some are still hoping so.

Brooke Pryor on Jordan Addison: “I'm so onboard with giving Kenny Pickett his favorite target from college.” #Steelers #NFL
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) January 16, 2023