Steelers' Kenny Pickett last unsigned first-round pick from 2022 NFL draft

Pittsburgh Steelers fans hoping that Pittsburgh Panthers product and rookie Kenny Pickett would be the team's last quarterback standing this summer probably didn't have anything like this in mind. 

According to Curt Popejoy of Steelers Wire/USA Today and Spencer Schultz of Steeler Nation, Pickett is the final unsigned first-round selection from the 2022 NFL Draft now that the New England Patriots have come to terms with offensive lineman Cole Strange. The Steelers kept Pickett in Pittsburgh by drafting him with overall choice No. 20 in April. 

For a piece updated back on June 11, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe reported that Pickett will eventually "sign a four-year deal worth $14 million fully guaranteed" that includes a standard fifth-year option. 

"But several players now negotiate for large roster bonuses at the beginning of training camp, and minimum salaries," Volin explained. "The money is equal, but the players get more up front. However, the Steelers have never agreed to that structure for first-round picks." 

Pickett's camp may be requesting a larger signing bonus since he was the only signal-caller taken in the first round of this year's player-selection process. However, Pittsburgh could counter and say that the first-year pro is already well behind free-agent signing Mitchell Trubisky in a competition not set to officially get underway until training camp and, thus, is guaranteed to begin his career as a backup barring an injury. 

There's currently no reason for Steelers fans to worry, as it's likely just a matter of time before what's become a formality under the current collective bargaining agreement is handled. Still, all involved would likely prefer to put pen to paper on the contract as soon as possible so that Pickett can concentrate mostly on improving as a pro.