The Next Morning: Reacting to the Steelers Drafting Kenny Pickett

Story by Yinzer Crazy Steelers Contributor Noah Nichols. Follow him on Twitter @_NoahNichols

The following was a transcript of my reaction to the Steelers first-round pick. I don’t apologize for it, nor do I condone my take, because it might be wrong. Instantaneous draft reactions often are – and that’s why they’re so much fun. Anyways, let’s get into it.

With the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…

Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, Pitt.

If you have followed me throughout the pre-draft process, you will know that I was a huge Malik Willis fan. When Willis was available at 20, I expected him to be the pick. I joined half of Steelers nation in shock when Pickett was announced as the selection.

It appears the Steelers were just as shocked as we were that Pickett was still available. “We were surprised he (Pickett) was still there,” said Kevin Colbert. Mike Tomlin noted how the Steelers were “all over the United States” doing their research on quarterbacks, but ultimately ended up with the guy next door.

And that’s fine with me. Pickett was a surprise, but he is not a disappointment. He set the Pitt all-time record for touchdowns, surpassing Dan Marino (he was kind of good, wasn’t he?), and was a Heisman finalist.

Pickett is a cerebral, mature, competitive, and most importantly, athletic quarterback. He’s also very accurate, something the Steelers have mentioned as the most pivotal aspect in their eyes. His maturity was something the Steelers coveted. As far as hand size goes, Colbert said “we weren’t concerned,” when asked during the immediate press conference following their pick. Pickett measured in at just over 8 and a half inches, making his hands some of the smallest in the NFL.

Writing this article the next morning, I’m not too sure what to think. I like Pickett. I think he compares favorably to Joe Burrow – he's smart, has moxie, doesn’t possess a strong arm, is surprisingly athletic, and both were otherwise lackluster until they exploded in their final year.