As the old football phrase goes, “If you have two quarterbacks, you really don’t have any.” That may be true for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with even the franchise seemingly split on who should take over at QB in 2024, between Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, or a new contender.
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As the team’s 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickett would seem to be the natural choice when it comes to solving the position for several years to come. But as the Steelers determined last season, his performance didn’t back up his draft pedigree. Now, the Steelers are expected to bring in competition for their former first-round pick.
Yet, one former Steelers legend doesn’t think the quarterback situation in Pittsburgh is as bad as everyone thinks.
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Terry Bradshaw says Pittsburgh Steelers already have their franchise QB with Kenny Pickett
When it comes to great quarterback play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger are at the top of the list. After all, no other Steelers QB has won a Super Bowl before.
But now it’s up to Kenny Pickett, or possibly Mason Rudolph, or another unknown entrant we’ve yet to see join the Steelers roster. Are any of the existing options good enough to hoist a Lombardi Trophy? Bradshaw certainly thinks so.
“I love Pickett. I know him well and he’s fiercely competitive, he’s a tough-minded kid, things don’t bother him. I really like him a lot. I’m going to say this for the 10,000th time this year. Surround—not only Kenny—but any of these young quarterbacks, the kid with the Bears (Justin Fields), surround them with talent. He’s fine, he’s their guy. There’s probably going to be a lot of negative about him, but that’s the guy I would go with.”
“Stay with what you got. Build him up, get him a receiver, get him an explosive tight end, get him another tackle, give him a guard. Have the ability to protect him and then get him guys on the outside. This is a passing league now, get him people out there that can run and catch the football and that are smart.”
Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Terry Bradshaw gushing about Kenny Pickett
While that opinion is sure to cause more division among the Steelers’ fanbase, those who believe in Pickett, and those who are ready for change, I love Bradshaw’s take here.
It’s so odd that teams quickly move on from a player after parts of two seasons, as would be the case with Pickett. Even look at Rudolph, for example. He was drafted in 2018, and while he never really got a great opportunity to play, he was finally looking his best in 2023, a full five years after he entered the NFL.
Pickett will still be just 26 next season, and there’s no way the Steelers can look themselves in the mirror and feel good about what they’ve provided for their young QB when it comes to protection and pass-catching weapons.
It’s time to rebuild the roster, not start over at QB. That way, if the Steelers realize there’s no way they can thrive with Pickett under center in a year or two, at least their new QB, whether it’s a rookie or a veteran, will have a much better chance at finding success with more talent surrounding them to help the offense shine.
Yet, the ball is in the Steelers’ court. Pickett likely won’t be jettisoned from the roster, but the Steelers have also made it clear that more competition is coming. We’ll see if Bradshaw gets his wish, but a lot of the pressure falls squarely on Pickett’s shoulders, knowing he needs to improve too.
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