The Steelers are going to sign Russell Wilson. It will be made official on Wednesday when free agency officially starts.
With Wilson signing and Head Coach Mike Tomlin saying that Kenny Pickett will have to compete for the starting position, some national experts have said they expect a training camp competition.
But, there is little chance the Steelers told Wilson he would have to compete to be the starter in Pittsburgh.
At 35-years-old, 12 seasons in the NFL and a Super Bowl championship to his name, Wilson isn’t coming to Pittsburgh to be the backup.
So, where does that leave Kenny Pickett?
Not in a great place.
For the Steelers, they want someone that can win now. Pickett hasn’t proven that he can.
He’s played in 25 games, starting 24. During that time, he has 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Last season, Pickett had only six touchdowns through 12 games.
The Steelers have an aging defense and want to take advantage of what they have now, before it’s too late.
Wilson may not be the same player he once was, but is an upgrade over Pickett.
Former Steelers lineman Ramon Foster says if he was Pickett, he would be “livid.”
“If I’m Kenny, because he can command it before it gets super bad, I’m probably talking to my agent like, can we find a way out somewhere,” said Foster on The Arthur Moats Experience.
There have been rumblings that Pickett may, indeed, want out of Pittsburgh, but nothing have been confirmed.