ESPN’s Adam Schefter (h/t Brooke Pryor) reported on Friday afternoon that the Pittsburgh Steelers are trading quarterback and 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, in part because Pickett “preferred to move on” after veteran Russell Wilson agreed to a team-friendly contract to join the Steelers.
It was reported earlier this week that “Wilson was going to have to earn everything, including beating out former first-rounder Kenny Pickett for the starting job.” However, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport (h/t Nick Shook) said on Friday afternoon that the Steelers indicated Wilson “would be the starter rather than have a competition with Pickett this summer.”
“It appears that decision led to a trade of the former first-round pick,” Rapoport added. Pryor noted that “Wilson was viewed less as a competitor and more likely as the starting quarterback” in Pittsburgh.
While Pickett immediately becomes a backup behind Philadelphia starter Jalen Hurts, his departure seemingly opens the door for Wilson to begin training camp as Pittsburgh’s undisputed QB1. Wilson spoke with media members on Friday morning for the first time as an official member of the Steelers and revealed he texted Pickett shortly after the 35-year-old decided to relocate to Pittsburgh.
Wilson did well to keep the trade news a secret assuming he knew about Pickett’s true intentions.
“As soon as I made the decision to come here, and we got it done, I texted Kenny and got to talk to him a little bit and just tell him, ‘Hey, every day we go out there, let’s be the best version of ourselves and try to make this team better,'” Wilson explained before the Pickett trade, according to Dale Lolley of the Steelers’ website. “And so that was cool. I just texted him right right away.”
Wilson also referenced a “competition with Kenny” that is no longer a possibility.
Pickett entered last September as Pittsburgh’s starter but lost the job in December to an ankle injury and, later, to backup Mason Rudolph. It was reported that Pickett essentially refused to dress for the Week 17 game at the Seattle Seahawks because he “was very unhappy that he wasn’t starting,” but he later denied that claim.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offered more information on Pickett’s mindset:
CBS Sports insider Aditi Kinkhabwala added a different take:
The 25-year-old now gets a career reset as Hurts’ backup at a time when the Steelers may be looking for another fresh face for their quarterback room. Almost immediately after the Pickett news broke, Cleveland Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand linked Pittsburgh with Chicago Bears signal-caller Justin Fields.
The Bears are widely expected to part ways with Fields before they make USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the first pick of this year’s draft. Pittsburgh may be able to get Fields for a day-three draft choice, as it’s thought Chicago will want to avoid any awkwardness associated with the 2021 first-round selection and Williams sharing a locker room during training camp.