On Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent quarterback Kenny Pickett to the other side of the state—dealing him, along with the 120th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 98th pick and two future seventh-round picks.
The move took place as part of an offseason-long shakeup of the Steelers’ quarterback room. Pittsburgh signed quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year contract on March 15, and longtime Steelers signal-caller Mason Rudolph formally signed with the Tennessee Titans Friday.
How did Pickett fall out of this equation? Per Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer, confirming a report by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the quarterback’s reaction to Wilson’s signing was a factor in the Steelers making the deal.
Can confirm @gerrydulac‘s reporting that Kenny Pickett’s handling of the Russell Wilson signing was a factor in the @Steelers‘ decision. He communicated to the team he was fine with competing for the job, then went the other way when Wilson was added. So he’s gone.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 15, 2024
“[Pickett] communicated to the team he was fine with competing for the job, then went the other way when Wilson was added,” Breer wrote Friday. “So he’s gone.”
In two shaky years with Pittsburgh, Pickett—previously ballyhooed in the city due to his success at the University of Pittsburgh—threw just 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 25 games.
