For now, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger.
The former UNC standout gained much interest among NFL teams during his only season with the Buffalo Bills.
However, Trubisky’s two-year contract indicates that the Steelers are not totally sold on him.
If he becomes the play-caller they need, Pittsburgh is fortunate to get him on a bargain.
Likewise, they won’t hesitate to give him a more lucrative contract extension if he exceeds expectations.
But if he fails, the Steelers should have a backup plan in the game’s most crucial position.
Mason Rudolph isn’t the answer if Trubisky falters.
Therefore, they will likely draft a quarterback in round one of the 2022 draft.
When Mike Tomlin said the number one trait he's looking for in a quarterback is being an "ultra-competitor" it made me think about Kenny Pickett. It's the first time in months that I've felt like they might actually draft him at 20.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 25, 2022
Pittsburgh sports insider Andrew Filipponi tweeted that head coach Mike Tomlin likes his quarterback to be an “ultra-competitor.”
In that case, Pittsburgh Panthers’ Kenny Pickett fits the bill, leading him to think that the Steelers will pick him at 20.
Hand Size Doesn’t Matter
Pickett made news because his hand size grew by 1/8 inch from the Scouting Combine to his pro day.
Despite that improvement, his palm is still tiny compared to the average hand of an NFL quarterback.
Tomlin loves Pickett’s competitive attitude, which helped him win several accolades.
He finished his final collegiate season with 42 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
Pickett ended his career with the Panthers on a high note by becoming a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC.
He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the best upperclassman quarterback in the nation.
If Filipponi is correct with his hunch, Pickett need not leave Pittsburgh to make the jump to the NFL.
He will learn from the sidelines in his rookie season unless he proves he’s better than Trubisky.
