Pickett unfazed by working as No. 3 in OTAs: I need to 'earn everything'
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Kenny Pickett as their next franchise quarterback when they selected him 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the rookie is prepared to work his way up from the bottom.
"I didn't think I was going to walk in and be the (No.) 1," said Pickett, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "It's kind of what I was expecting, just come in here and earn everything I get."
Pickett is working behind Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky during voluntary workouts. Rudolph is entering Year 4 in Pittsburgh after primarily acting as Ben Roethlisberger's backup, while Trubisky signed a two-year deal as a free agent this offseason and boasts 50 starts in five seasons.
The Steelers will allow all three quarterbacks to compete for the starting role, and head coach Mike Tomlin said after the draft in April that Pickett "certainly has a chance" to be under center in Week 1.
Pickett was the lone quarterback taken in the first two rounds, arguably putting him under the most pressure to hit the ground running in the NFL.
Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral were forced to wait until Round 3 despite pre-draft speculation they all could be selected on Day 1.
Pickett produced a breakout season for Pitt as a senior in 2021, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns against seven interceptions.