Will Kenny Pickett keep Pittsburgh Steelers from drafting another first-round QB in 2023?
Before you send any hurtful emails or comments, just hear me out.
No one is advocating for the Pittsburgh Steelers to draft a quarterback right now. Regardless, follow along and you will see why the Steelers are in a perfect position to draft a quarterback in the first round in 2023, should the need arise.
Pittsburgh invested a 2022 first-round pick in quarterback Kenny Pickett. Looking at the entire 2022 NFL draft in its entirety, it is safe to say Pittsburgh probably drafted him a little early but we acknowledge the team had no choice but to do it.
Another thing working in the Steelers' favor: Pickett is on the field. Obviously, the plan was to let Pickett redshirt in 2022 while Mitch Trubisky served as the bridge quarterback after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. Trubisky, however, could not hold onto the job and Pickett was thrust into action.
But even if Pickett does play well for the rest of the season, the odds of the defense being enough to keep this team competitive are slim. So there’s a good chance Pittsburgh will be picking near or in the top 10.
The other big plus about this scenario is that the 2023 quarterback draft class is shaping up to be very strong. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young are both elite prospects and will be high first-round picks. You mix in Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke and there are easily five guys who could go in the top 20 picks. Quite a contrast from the 2021 draft class.
NFL 2023 MOCK DRAFT: Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young go 1-2 in latest projection
If over the course of the next 12 games, Pittsburgh doesn’t like what they see from Pickett, they will have options.