PFF: Kenny Pickett Playing Like One of Worst QBs in NFL

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has not played well this season, and the alarm bells are starting to go off for a lot of analysts. After a strong preseason, none of the momentum has carried over, and Pro Football Focus is one of the outlets that has seen Pickett’s performance as below the line so far.

Joining 93.7 the Fan on Friday, Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson put Pickett on blast. Despite being a fan of his in the offseason, Monson believes the tape is undeniable. He thinks Kenny Pickett has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league through five weeks.

“You strip out all of the low sample size guys, it’s basically only Desmond Ridder and Bryce Young that have a worse grade than Kenny Pickett right now,” Monson said on 93.7 The Fan.

Monson is not the only analyst who is out on Pickett, as Colin Cowherd noted that he does not see Kenny Pickett as the team’s franchise quarterback of the future. Cowherd took it one step further, though, and thinks that Pittsburgh will hold onto Pickett far too long even when it might be apparent he is not the answer.

I was told for years they didn’t like drafting the University of Pittsburgh kids because if they didn’t make it, they’d have to get rid of them and they share a facility. I mean, the Rooneys are just embedded in that community,” Cowherd said on The Volume Podcast. “They didn’t want to draft Pittsburgh kids and cut them or trade them. They’re going to keep Kenny Pickett around for years. They’re not going to bail on Kenny Pickett the first-round quarterback, they won’t do it to that kid. And I have to tell you, I don’t see it. I just don’t see it.”

It’s OK to give Pickett more time, given the situation he currently finds himself in. The accuracy he struggled with early in the year as come back. But he is still skittish in the pocket and lacks the processing speed from the pocket needed to sustain success there now. Some of that could be attributed to the play of guys around him. Pickett’s escapability remains a unique trait that many NFL quarterbacks do not have. But with him right now, that is a blessing and curse as he can run himself into pressure.

Pittsburgh needs to see strides from Pickett. They know he has the clutch gene. He pulled that out of his bag of tricks against the Ravens. Somehow, the guy makes plays when it matters. It is about getting that same production over the rest of the game with some consistency. Matt Canada’s play calling does not help him at all, but Pickett needs to sharpen things up in the second half of the season to prove he can be the guy in Pittsburgh.