ESPN’s Adam Schefter (h/t Brooke Pryor) reported on Friday afternoon that the Pittsburgh Steelers are buying and selling quarterback and 2022 first-round draft decide Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, partially as a result of Pickett “preferred to move on” after veteran Russell Wilson agreed to a team-friendly contract to be a part of the Steelers.
It was reported earlier this week that “Wilson was going to have to earn everything, including beating out former first-rounder Kenny Pickett for the starting job.” However, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport (h/t Nick Shook) mentioned on Friday afternoon that the Steelers indicated Wilson “would be the starter rather than have a competition with Pickett this summer.”
“It appears that decision led to a trade of the former first-round pick,” Rapoport added. Pryor famous that “Wilson was viewed less as a competitor and more likely as the starting quarterback” in Pittsburgh.
While Pickett instantly turns into a backup behind Philadelphia starter Jalen Hurts, his departure seemingly opens the door for Wilson to start coaching camp as Pittsburgh’s undisputed QB1. Wilson spoke with media members on Friday morning for the primary time as an official member of the Steelers and revealed he texted Pickett shortly after the 35-year-old determined to relocate to Pittsburgh.
Wilson did nicely to maintain the commerce information a secret assuming he knew about Pickett’s true intentions.
“As soon as I made the decision to come here, and we got it done, I texted Kenny and got to talk to him a little bit and just tell him, ‘Hey, every day we go out there, let’s be the best version of ourselves and try to make this team better,'” Wilson defined earlier than the Pickett commerce, in accordance to Dale Lolley of the Steelers’ web site. “And so that was cool. I just texted him right right away.”
Wilson additionally referenced a “competition with Kenny” that’s now not a risk.
Pickett entered final September as Pittsburgh’s starter however misplaced the job in December to an ankle damage and, later, to backup Mason Rudolph. It was reported that Pickett primarily refused to gown for the Week 17 sport on the Seattle Seahawks as a result of he “was very unhappy that he wasn’t starting,” however he later denied that declare.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette supplied extra info on Pickett’s mindset:
CBS Sports insider Aditi Kinkhabwala added a unique take:
The 25-year-old now will get a profession reset as Hurts’ backup at a time when the Steelers could also be searching for one other contemporary face for his or her quarterback room. Almost instantly after the Pickett information broke, Cleveland Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand linked Pittsburgh with Chicago Bears signal-caller Justin Fields.
The Bears are extensively anticipated to half methods with Fields earlier than they make USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the primary decide of this 12 months’s draft. Pittsburgh could have the option to get Fields for a day-three draft selection, because it’s thought Chicago will need to keep away from any awkwardness related to the 2021 first-round choice and Williams sharing a locker room throughout coaching camp.
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