Let me just start by saying that I believe in Kenny Pickett’s ability to be a winning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I think that he’ll grow, he’ll improve and the Steelers will be committed to putting things in place for him to succeed.
But by most accounts, Kenny Pickett is supposed to be an average NFL quarterback. His arm strength is probably right around league average, some might say a little below. His accuracy is right around league average, some might say a little above.
We know he has sneaky speed and athleticism (although if we all know it, how “sneaky” is it?), but he’s not a Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts-like threat with his legs. Despite the extra muscle he put on this offseason, he’s average QB build. He’s not Big Ben. And of course, those hands are just so tiny.
All of these things are why Kenny Pickett wasn’t a top 5 pick in the NFL Draft a couple years ago. But with quarterbacks especially, you always have to account for the sometimes incalculable. The aura. The demeanor. The moxie. The confidence. The swag.
That’s what Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers saw in Kenny Pickett after years of watching learn and grow into an ACC champion and a Heisman Trophy candidate at Pitt. It’s what is beyond the pure arm strength, accuracy, mobility, physical traits.
It’s the intangibles. Omar Khan has already said this offseason that he has the “desire to be great.” Many people have credited his work ethic, being the first one there and last to leave. Studying the playbook until it’s ingrained in his brain.
It’s endearing himself to teammates, getting his guys to play their hardest for him and have his back. It’s doing a little bit of smack talking to the opponent after a fiery play. It’s wanting the ball in your hand when the game is on the line and not shying away from that moment, like he mentioned on the Footbahlin’ podcast with Big Ben. It’s natural leadership and command, as many have said in observing OTA’s so far this summer that he is exhibiting a different level of.
Those are the kinds of things that can separate just your average QB with largely average QB skills into something more…
Or can it?
That description I just gave sounds nice. Sounds motivating, actually. Makes me want this season to start on Monday. But can it really elevate a player to play above what he’s capable of on the surface? Can you have sustained success just because of these things?
Kenny Pickett is going to be an excellent case study in the theory of “intangibles” matter. Can all of these character traits that you want in a leader and future of your offense and franchise result in the success that they desire? And let’s cut to the chase…will it result in Super Bowls?
The Steelers took Pickett 20th overall because they saw firsthand that there was more than the game film and the natural QB physical traits to him. Who knows how far he would have slipped if he didn’t go at 20.
They bet on the person, not just the player. The case study will play out in our own backyard if following that line of thinking works for NFL QB’s.
In my mind it starts in earnest this season. Many were left unimpressed by his overall numbers but loved his finish to the year. And many expect him to take that second-year leap.
Let’s see just how good Kenny Pickett can himself become.