Steelers Legend Thinks Kenny Pickett Should Have Never Been Traded
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw has always been a big supporter of Kenny Pickett, so it’s not too surprising that he criticized the Steelers organization for trading the former first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.
“They should have never gotten rid of [Kenny] Pickett,” Bradshaw said during the FOX pregame show on Sunday. Bradshaw added that he had the same opinion prior to the Steelers’ three-game losing streak.
With Jalen Hurts still in the concussion protocol, Pickett led the Eagles to a 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Pickett completed 10 of 15 passes (66.7%) for 143 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 119.6. He also has a 1-yard rushing touchdown. On his touchdown passes, Pickett connected to DeVonta Smith for a 22-yard score.
Pickett re-injured his ribs early in the third quarter and did not return. Pickett got two painkiller shots, one before the game and one at halftime, to help him play through broken ribs, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“I’m good. I’ll be all right,” Pickett said after the game.
Eagles All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay compared Pickett’s performance to what he saw from Matthew Stafford throughout his career and gave him props for having the guts to play through the rib injury.
Pickett replaced Hurts after he was injured in last week’s game against the Washington Commanders, finishing 14 of 24 for 143 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in a 36-33 loss. He also appeared in relief duty in three other games, all blowouts.
“I’m very excited. It’s a big opportunity,” Pickett said on Thursday. “I’ve been working hard to stay ready and I felt like I was in a good position last game with my preparation and now having a week to practice, I’ll feel even better going into the stadium. So, I’m excited. I just want to get the win.”
Pickett was traded along with pick No. 120 in the 2024 NFL Draft for Pick No. 98 and two 2025 seventh-round picks. The Steelers used pick No. 98 on NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. Pickett requested a trade after the signing of Russell Wilson, and the Steelers obliged.
Last February, Bradshaw went after the idea that the team should trade for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Instead, he felt that they should continue to build around Pickett. Of course, the Steelers ended up signing Wilson and trading for Fields.
“I love Pickett,” Bradshaw said on The Rich Eisen Show. “I know him well. He’s fiercely competitive. He’s a tough-minded kind. Things don’t bother him. I really like him a lot. Kenny’s got the poise. I just want my quarterback to be poised. If he’s poised, then his brain’s gonna be calm, he’s going to see the coverages, he’s going to be quick with his decision making. And Pickett has all of that.
“You don’t need Fields,” Bradshaw said. “Stay with what you got. Just build (Pickett) up. Get him another receiver. Give him an explosive tight end. Give him another tackle, give him a guard. Have the ability to protect him. And give him guys on the outside. This is a passing league, now. Get him people out there that can run and catch the football that are smart. That’s their guy. There’s probably going to be a lot of negative (said) about him, but that’s the guy I would go with.”
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