The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The former Pitt Panther was the only quarterback selected in the first round.
The six-time Super Bowl champions hope that he will be Ben Roethlisberger‘s rightful successor.
It isn’t hard to see their reasons for selecting Pickett that early.
First, they addressed most of the roster holes and quarterback was their only glaring need.
The Steelers believe that Pickett can help them remain competitive and keep head coach Mike Tomlin away from a losing season.
Second, he has numerous accolades including the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and ACC Player of the Year.
His 42 touchdowns against seven interceptions are also impressive.
He may not have the biggest of hands, but Pittsburgh thinks that he will come up big in clutch situations.
However, All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman isn’t optimistic about his NFL career.
Richard Sherman on Kenny Pickett being Pittsburgh's QB of the future:
“I don't know. It’s hard for me to trust a quarterback who wears gloves all the time.”
Via The @RSherman_25 Podcast pic.twitter.com/9hrKTcoy4x
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) May 9, 2022
Sherman said regarding Pickett on his podcast, “I don’t know. It’s hard for me to trust a quarterback who wears gloves all the time.”
The three-time First-Team All-Pro could be wrong and Pickett could have a successful career.
But the former Super Bowl champion does have a valid observation.
How Will Pickett Fare Minus The Gloves?
Perhaps wearing gloves is Pickett’s way of addressing his hand size.
It helps him to hold on to the ball and make passes downfield.
But the gloves could also be detrimental to his success, especially if it becomes slippery.
Pickett will have an opportunity to compete with Mitchell Trubisky for the Steelers’ starting job.
If he wins that role and turns out to become a fantastic quarterback, he need not lose the gloves if it helps him become successful.
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