With the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers draft Kenny Pickett, quarterback out of Pittsburgh. The Heisman finalist will step into an offense looking for a new leader. He has big shoes to fill, but the hometown kid will likely be given plenty of time and support from the fanbase. He is a skilled pocket passer but can throw on the run with the best in the NFL. Let’s take a closer look at Pickett.
Kenny Pickett Highlights
Steelers Draft Kenny Pickett | 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Kenny Pickett
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 220 lbs
Age: 23
College: Pittsburgh Panthers
Kenny Pickett Draft Profile
Strengths
Kenny Pickett is a four-year starter who the NFL has sought after since 2019. In his last season at Pitt, he was able to improve his completion by a full 6%, as well as double his yardage total. Aside from his wealth of experience earned through his 52 starts as a Panther, Pickett proved he can put points on the board at a very high rate while still protecting the ball. Responsible for 47 touchdowns as opposed to just nine total turnovers, he has a point differential of +228. Maybe most importantly, he is a pocket passer first, but is extremely accurate when on the move, an asset that is invaluable in the NFL today.
Weaknesses
Kenny Pickett’s most famous weakness is his small hands. How much stock you put in it is up to you, but quarterback hand-size has been a hot topic amongst talent evaluators ever since the transition to the smaller, faster type of player at the position. The problem for Pickett is that he is from that classification. At 6-3, he has a hand size of just eight and five eights inches. The other glaring concern is the fact that the numbers just weren’t there in his first three years as a starter like they were in his final year. In time, the NFL will show which version of Pickett is the real one.
RELATED | Full Kenny Pickett NFL Draft Profile and Highlights
Kenny Pickett Stats 2021 | Pittsburgh Panthers
| G | Pass YDs | Pass TDs | INT | Rush YDs | Rush TDs |
| 13 | 4,319 | 42 | 7 | 241 | 5 |
What to Expect From Kenny Pickett in 2022
It’s clear Kenny Pickett was drafted by the face of the franchise long term, but it is not a guarantee he will contribute immediately. Look for him to battle hard in a quarterback competition with Mitch Trubisky and develop as a leader when mini-camp begins. Pickett has a ton of experience, and is the most “ready to play” quarterback in this 2022 NFL draft.
