Full Breakdown
Former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert Defends Kenny Pickett Draft Amid Ongoing Quarterback Uncertainty
6/21/2026, 9:34:44 PM
The Decision and Its Defense
In 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick. Former general manager Kevin Colbert later defended the choice, saying the team projected Pickett as a start-and-win quarterback and cited his 14-10 record as evidence of early success.
Steelers Quarterback History and Draft Context
The franchise has selected in the top ten five times in 53 years and never higher than No. 7, a pattern that left the team without a successor after Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger. Missed opportunities such as passing on Dan Marino in 1979 illustrate the long-term challenge of securing a franchise quarterback.
Pickett’s Tenure: 2022-2026
Pickett started 12 of 13 games as a rookie in 2022, posting a 7-5 record, 2,404 passing yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions, and finished sixth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. In 2023 he began 7-4, threw for 2,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2024, where he served as a backup on the Super Bowl LVIII-winning squad. Brief stints with the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders followed in 2025, and he signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2026 to back up Bryce Young.
Official Statements & Responses
Colbert told 93.7 The Fan that the organization entered the draft believing Pickett could be a start-and-win quarterback, noting his 14-10 record and upward trend. He added that Pickett’s competitiveness and work ethic remain assets and that the former quarterback still has the potential to develop further.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts argue that Pickett served as a caretaker, overseeing a low-risk, defense-driven offense rather than generating big plays. The pick is cited as a miss in Colbert’s later draft classes, and the Steelers’ subsequent reliance on veterans Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, as well as developmental prospects Will Howard and Drew Allar, underscores the ongoing quarterback vacuum.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We projected Kenny to be a start-and-win NFL quarterback, and quite honestly, he lived up to that in his first two seasons with us,” — Kevin Colbert, former Steelers GM
- “For us, he was 14-10 and trending in the right direction. So that’s what we thought we had in Kenny.” — Kevin Colbert
- “Kenny’s a great young man. He’s a great competitor… And I still think at a young age, I still think Kenny can continue to build on what he did with us in those first two seasons.” — Kevin Colbert
- “And I still think at a young age, I still think Kenny can continue to build on what he did with us in those first two seasons.” — Kevin Colbert
What’s Next
The Steelers have added developmental quarterbacks Will Howard (2025 sixth-round) and Drew Allar (2024 third-round) while exploring supplemental options, and the franchise hopes a future top-ten pick will secure a long-term starter. Pickett will aim to earn playing time behind Bryce Young in Carolina.
