Steelers trade Kenny Pickett to the Eagles after signing Russell Wilson, sources tell the AP
Pittsburgh (AP) — Pittsburgh’s short-lived but turbulent Kenny Pickett era is finished.
The Associated Press has been informed by numerous sources that the quarterback is being traded by the Steelers to the Philadelphia Eagles. Since the agreement was not formal, the sources could only speak under condition of anonymity.
In return for Pickett and Pittsburgh’s fourth-round pick this year, the Steelers will receive a third-round pick in the NFL draft this year and two seventh-round selections in the 2025 draft.
The transaction was made just hours after the Steelers acquired nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson to a one-year contract to challenge Pickett for the starting job. However, when the team reported for training camp at Saint Vincent College in July, Wilson seemed to have the upper hand.
Wilson refused to
When asked at his first news conference on Friday, he stated he anticipated being the starter. He also mentioned that he and Pickett had gotten along soon after Wilson signed a contract with the team, stating they were both committed to improving the Steelers.
Rather, Wilson is now the only quarterback left on the team after Mitch Trubisky was cut and third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph joined with Tennessee. Rudolph led the Steelers to the postseason after Pickett had ankle surgery in early December.
Pickett, a first-round pick out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2022, went 14-10 as a starter but struggled to stay healthy and be a difference maker for an offense that languished near the bottom of the league.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin appeared to give Pickett a vote of confidence after the end of the season while allowing that 2024 would be a “huge” year in terms of Pickett’s future. General manager Omar Khan doubled down on Pickett at the NFL combine last month, saying the team had “full faith” that Pickett could mesh with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Yet a week later the club brought free-agent-to-be Wilson in for a visit and agreed to terms on a one-year deal late Sunday night.
The stunning turn of events by the typically pragmatic Steelers ends a once-promising marriage between Pittsburgh and Pickett, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021 while leading Pitt to its first ACC title.
The Steelers took Pickett 20th overall the following spring and he was thrust into the starting job at halftime of a Week 4 loss to the New York Jets. He didn’t put up eye-popping numbers but showed a knack for putting together late rallies, including wins over Baltimore and Oakland late in the 2022 season that offered a glimpse of what Pittsburgh thought he could become.
It never happened. The Steelers were sluggish much of the year and decided to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada just before Thanksgiving. Pickett looked solid in a promising win over Cincinnati under interim offensive coordiantor Eddie Faulkner and quarterbacks coach/playcaller Mike Sullivan. Yet Pickett had his ankle landed on while scrambling the next week against Arizona and underwent surgery.
By the time the ankle had healed, the Steelers had caught fire under Rudolph and Pickett spent the final two weeks as Rudolph’s backup.
