The Pittsburgh Steelers are experiencing significant repercussions from their recent quarterback selections in the NFL Draft. Following the retirement of franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after the 2021 season, the team has struggled to find a suitable replacement. Their attempt to address this issue by drafting Kenny Pickett in 2022 has not yielded the desired outcomes, as highlighted by a recent analysis from ESPN’s Matt Miller.
In his evaluation of quarterbacks drafted since 2021, Miller assigned Pickett the lowest ranking among eighteen first-round selections. The analysis pointed to a mixed reception regarding Pickett’s abilities, particularly noting that he was the only quarterback taken in the first round of a notably weak 2022 class. Miller emphasized the lack of depth in that year’s draft, stating, “He ended up being the only quarterback taken in the first round…the best 2022 QB, Brock Purdy, was selected with the final pick of the draft.”
Despite a promising college career where Pickett threw 42 touchdown passes in his final season at the University of Pittsburgh, his transition to the NFL has been rocky. Over the course of his rookie season, he completed only 63% of his passes and threw nine interceptions in 13 games. This performance raised concerns about his potential as a long-term solution for the Steelers.
Pickett’s challenges continued into the following seasons. He lost his starting position in 2023 and was subsequently traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. His career took further turns as he was traded twice in 2025, moving first to the Cleveland Browns in the spring and then to the Las Vegas Raiders during the preseason.
The tenure of Pickett coincided with the team’s struggles under offensive coordinator Matt Canada, with both parties failing to establish a productive relationship. As Pickett now navigates a challenging path in the league, he finds himself in a position similar to that of Mac Jones, who has revitalized his career as a backup quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers amidst injuries to Purdy during the 2025 season.
Looking ahead, the Steelers face another offseason filled with uncertainty regarding their quarterback situation. With the draft approaching, the organization may be reluctant to pursue a quarterback in the first round again, given their previous missteps. The only potential option outside of the 2024 and 2025 drafts appears to be Fernando Mendoza, which raises questions about the team’s strategy moving forward.
As the Steelers continue to search for a reliable signal caller, they remain one of the more quarterback-needy teams in the league. The choices made in the upcoming draft will be critical in determining whether they can finally establish a successful trajectory after years of disappointing quarterback selections.
