Why did the Steelers trade Kenny Pickett? Handling of Russell Wilson signing leads to deal with Eagles

Edward Sutelan

Why did the Steelers trade Kenny Pickett? Handling of Russell Wilson signing leads to deal with Eagles image

Here we go, Russell Wilson. Out we go, Kenny Pickett.

On the day Pittsburgh made its signing with Wilson official, the Steelers parted ways with 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, trading him as part of a pick swap with the Eagles. Pickett will accompany the No. 120 pick (fourth round) to Philadelphia, while the Eagles are sending over pick No. 98 (third round) and two 2025 seventh-round picks across the state.

Pickett had opportunities as the starter in 2022 and 2023, but missed time due to injuries over both seasons. When healthy, the results were largely uninspiring as he combined to complete 62.6 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and 4,474 passing yards. At the end of the 2023 season, Mason Rudolph, in Pickett's place, powered the Steelers to a wild-card appearance, where they lost 31-17 to the Bills.

The Steelers were set to head into 2024 with Wilson as the starting quarterback. Pickett was still under contract through 2024 and 2025, with a fifth-year option for 2026, while Wilson was only under contract for the 2024 season. Now, Pickett will be the unquestioned backup to Jalen Hurts.

Why did the Steelers trade Pickett to the Eagles? Here's what you need to know.

TRADE GRADES: Breaking down the Kenny Pickett deal for Eagles, Steelers

Why did the Steelers trade Kenny Pickett?

Pickett was heading into the 2024 season as the backup quarterback to the Super Bowl-winning Wilson. Though Pickett would be second string, he would be in a position to take the starting role should Wilson falter. Or Pickett could wait out the 2024 season and see if Wilson left via free agency after his contract was up.

Evidently, Pickett was unhappy the starting role had been taken away. Pickett was reportedly told he'd be the starter in 2024, according to CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkhabwala, but Pittsburgh went back on the agreement after signing Wilson. The team then reportedly told Pickett that Wilson would be the starter.

Steelers brass did not like how Pickett handled Wilson's arrival and subsequent naming of the starting role, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac. The team also reportedly had issues with Pickett refusing to dress as the emergency quarterback when the Steelers played the Seahawks in Week 17 last season coming off his ankle injury.

MORE NFL FREE AGENCY:
Most overpaid | Best bargains | Team grades | Winners & losers

It has been a tumultuous offseason for the Steelers at the quarterback position. Before the NFL Combine, it was reported by Dulac the Steelers were not interested in trading for Bears starter Justin Fields, and instead were content to go into the season with Pickett as the starter. The team reportedly had interest in bringing back Rudolph to either be the backup or compete for the starting role.

It wasn't just Fields the Steelers had apparently ruled out. Pittsburgh was "not interested in bringing in a quarterback who wants to be a starter," including Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Wilson, Dulac reported.

The Steelers wound up deciding post-combine to make the move in signing Wilson, and all of a sudden, the starting job was not just in jeopardy for Pickett, it had likely already been lost. And Pickett, after a tough start to his career, was ready to leave.

Steelers QB depth chart

  1. Russell Wilson

Following the trade of Pickett, Pittsburgh is down to Wilson and — no one. There is currently not another quarterback on the roster, meaning the Steelers are going to be in the market for a backup.

Enter Fields. The rumor mill is heating back up that Fields could find a home in PIttsburgh.

The logic being that with Wilson only on a one-year contract, the Steelers could look to bring in someone that offers more of a long-term future in Pittsburgh. Fields is under contract for 2024 with a fifth-year option for 2025, meaning the Steelers could allow him to serve as the backup for one season then become the starter in 2025 after working with Wilson for a year.

The Fields trade market has not materialized for Chicago. The Steelers, now armed with some extra picks, could potentially take advantage of the opening.

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.