Kenny Pickett could be trading in his blue and gold for black and gold. ESPN's Todd McShay projects the Steelers will select the Heisman finalist in his first mock draft, a move that would potentially give Pittsburgh its next franchise quarterback.
Currently, the Steelers are slated to pick at No. 12 overall, despite being just a half-game out of the AFC playoff picture.
"Ben Roethlisberger is likely in his final season, and his predecessor is not currently in the building," McShay writes. "The Steelers' offense has playmakers, but it needs someone who can distribute them the ball as the team tries to stay competitive in an AFC North division stacked with young franchise QBs."
In a stark departure from most years, McShay doesn't have a single quarterback going in the top 10. Right now, he thinks Pickett will be the first passer taken off the board. (McShay says five passers will be drafted in the first round overall.)
While that's hard to fathom, most of the teams projected to pick at the top of the draft aren't really in need of quarterbacks. The Jaguars, Jets and Giants, all of whom drafted first round quarterbacks within the last three years, are slated to own five of the first 10 picks next year.
The Lions, who have a 57.4% chance of picking at No. 1 overall, are an exception — especially since they can get out of Jared Goff's contract in 2023. Still, McShay expects them to pick the best player available: defensive end Aidan Hutchinson out of Michigan.
Pickett lit it up in his senior season, completing 67.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 1st-team All-American said last week he's undecided whether he'll play in the Peach Bowl.
Roethlisberger, of course, will be a 40-year-old free agent at the end of the season.
