The Philadelphia Eagles were in the market for a backup quarterback, and they just got their man.
Kenny Pickett didn’t want to compete with Russell Wilson and requested a trade.
Needless to say, the fact that he chose not to compete in one place and wanted to be a backup somewhere else spoke volumes on how much he wanted to leave.
Now, he’ll join a team he grew up rooting for.
Also, as pointed out by NFL insider Eliot Shorr-Parks, the fact that the Eagles gave up a potential top-100 pick to get Pickett speaks volumes of their assessment of his game.
“The Eagles giving up the chance at a top 100 pick (or the draft value of a 4th) for Kenny Pickett is a sign of how much they really like him. It wasn’t just some late-round flyer they traded. They clearly think he has real upside,” Parks said.
The #Eagles giving up the chance at a top 100 pick (or the draft value of a 4th) for Kenny Pickett is a sign of how much they really like him
It wasn’t just some late-round flyer they traded. They clearly think he has real upside.
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) March 17, 2024
He believes the team really has faith in his upside.
Notably, that still shouldn’t bode much of a threat for Jalen Hurts.
Hurts was an MVP candidate just two seasons ago, and he has already signed one of the largest contracts in NFL history, so the Eagles will give him every opportunity they can to make sure he succeeds.
GM Howie Roseman and multiple players have made it loud and clear that this is Jalen Hurts’ team, and that’s not likely to change after an injury-riddled season.
That means, barring injury, Pickett will only be on the field late in games during blowouts.
Then again, with so many injuries and desperate teams that wind up trading for backup quarterbacks once their starter gets hurt, there’s still a chance someone else will look to take a flier on the Pittsburgh product.
NEXT: Steelers Reportedly Have Interest In Long-Term Deal With Russell Wilson
