Overview
- Colbert publicly defended the decision on Saturday during an appearance on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan, saying the Steelers had “projected Kenny to be a start-and-win NFL quarterback.”
- He pointed to Pickett’s 14–10 record as a starter with Pittsburgh and said Pickett was ‘trending in the right direction’ and could still develop further.
- Pickett was traded after Colbert retired and has since moved between several teams, won a Super Bowl ring in Philadelphia in 2024 according to reports, and is currently listed as a backup behind Carolina starter Bryce Young.
- Critics note Pickett’s on-field struggles in Pittsburgh, including 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 24 starts and below-average EPA and touchdown rates, leading many outlets to label the pick a failed first-round investment.
- The debate over the Pickett pick highlights broader structural limits on the Steelers’ ability to acquire franchise quarterbacks, including rare top-10 draft positions and ownership resistance to multi-year rebuilds, which could force the team to lean on short-term veterans or hope for unusually poor seasons to land high draft capital.