You may have heard that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a quarterback quandary on their hands. Rest assured that the Steelers’ quarterback situation will be one of the most talked about storylines of the NFL offseason, and for good reason.
What the Steelers ultimately choose to do at quarterback will undoubtedly alter the direction of the franchise. They could continue to go with Kenny Pickett, turn to a proven veteran as a bridge QB or completely change course with either a rookie or a promising free agent or trade acquisition.
So, what will the Steelers do? In an attempt to find out, here’s my rankings of Pittsburgh’s top-five options at quarterback with free agency looming.
1. Kenny Pickett
This might not make some Steelers fans happy. He hasn’t emphatically made his case to be Ben Roethlisberger’s long-term successor. But as we’ll explain below, much of that hasn’t been his fault.
Pickett started his career with an offensive coordinator who was relieved of his duties during the 2023 season. It’s no coincidence that Pickett’s best game last season occurred immediately following the OC shakeup. Pickett continued to play well the following week before an injury ultimately ended his season.
Injuries have also hindered Pickett’s development. He missed two games his rookie season after entering the league’s concussion protocol. An ankle injury last season contributed to Pickett’s season ending after 12 games.
Offensive coordinator and injury issues have hurt Pickett’s growth, but he Steelers possibly trying to turn him into a game manager has, too. Pickett threw a lot of picks early on as a rookie, and substantially improved in that area shortly thereafter. But his production also decreased; he’s had just one game with multiple touchdown passes and his only 300-yard passing performance occurred during his first career start in Buffalo.
Part of new OC Arthur Smith’s task…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-steelers-qb-options-for-2024-sticking-with-kenny-pickett-acquiring-justin-fields-among-best-fits/
Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2024-02-14 14:23:21
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