My longstanding estimation of Kenny Pickett’s ceiling as an NFL player is “85% of Joe Burrow.” Turns out that may have been a far too generous evaluation.
I get that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada is doing Pickett few favors schematically, but the level of a** Pickett has achieved to date goes well beyond play design. If he was really “that guy”, Pickett would’ve flashed far more potential through 24 starts.
Unless you’re an unserious, flat-out ignorant individual who takes stock in Pickett’s 13-9 record as an NFL starter, you know that he sucks. The amount of fans who still defended him until about a couple weeks ago was staggering. I think it’s self-evident now to anyone with a functioning mind that Pickett can’t play quarterback at the professional level.
Can we get a little “highlight reel” of Pickett from Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Browns when he wasn’t checking it down or throwing passes near the line of scrimmage? Warning: This video is not for the faint of heart.
Every single Kenny Pickett pass attempt that went beyond the sticks today pic.twitter.com/srmjDt4aj2
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 20, 2023
If you have people out here questioning whether you’re better than the likes of former UDFA Jake Browning and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, you’re probably in the wrong profession.
In a division currently starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jake Browning, Kenny Pickett may be the worst QB.
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) November 19, 2023
Pickett has failed to find the end zone as a passer so often that it’s almost as if he’s trying not to score. Literally no qualifying quarterback has thrown TD passes at a lower clip than Pickett since the AFL-NFL merger.
315 QBs have 500 pass attempts since the merger
Only one has thrown a touchdown on fewer than 2% of his attempts
Kenny Pickett (1.9%) pic.twitter.com/TOxFF6Bqlp
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 19, 2023
That sounds bad, doesn’t it? Let’s expand this concept a little more, though. I tell you, it’s hard to believe these numbers are real.
In the last 20 years, Kenny Pickett has the FEWEST touchdowns of any starting QB when compared to his starts.
Let that sink in…
“This offense is abysmal… let me tell you how BAD this QB is…”
Panel all believes: Canada and Pickett gotta go pic.twitter.com/Bsi2eALUEU
— Melissa (@mdrizzy22) November 20, 2023
Notable QBs with more Pass TD than Kenny Pickett (13) since the start of last season
Davis Mills* (17)
Marcus Mariota^ (15)
Matt Ryan^ (14)*has attempted 1 pass this season
^has not attempted a pass this season pic.twitter.com/tjqNf7JKlF— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 20, 2023
Kenny Pickett passing TDs:
6.
Dallas Cowboys Def/Special Team TDs:
Also 6.
— Analytics of Dynasty (@McNamaraDynasty) November 20, 2023
Kenny Pickett and Anthony Richardson have the same amount of TD passes (2) since October 1st pic.twitter.com/pf727aAlMC
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 19, 2023
Tommy DeVito threw three TD's yesterday. Kenny Pickett has thrown 2 TD's in his last seven games.
— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) November 20, 2023
Tommy DeVito now has more career games with multiple passing touchdown than Kenny Pickett
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 19, 2023
I COULD KEEP GOING. AND I WILL.
Kenny Pickett has more time to throw than the league average, and yet is below league average in every advanced stat. Except, of course, inaccurate rate, which he ranks higher than the league average. https://t.co/bYQkmXwXOr
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) November 20, 2023
Kenny Pickett in his last 7 games:
– 919 yards passing
– 2 touchdowns (yes, 2)
– 131 YPG averageIf you can still defend this guy, I don’t know what to tell you… pic.twitter.com/fiyP5GV7aY
— Ock (@OcksWRLD) November 19, 2023
Kenny Pickett hasn't completed more than 19 passes since Week 1
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) November 20, 2023
It’s not like Pittsburgh doesn’t have weapons. George Pickens has freakish ball skills and tons of explosiveness after the catch. Diontae Johnson is a fine possession receiver. Tight end Pat Freiermuth has been banged up, but he’s another solid option. Plus, you have two solid backs in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris who are capable pass-catchers.
…Yet Pickett can’t get it done. Not even close to whatever “getting it done” would be. And oh by the way, that’s with a Steelers defense that ranks seventh in points allowed per game. By some miracle, Pittsburgh ranks 14th in rushing offense in spite of such an anemic passing “attack.”
Let this wash over you, Steelers enthusiasts: You’d be better off, in all likelihood, with Mason Rudolph in the lineup.
Mason Rudolph (2019, 10 games)
-176.5 yards per game
-13 TDs, 9 INTs
-82 passer ratingKenny Pickett (2023, 10 games)
-172.2 yards per game
-6 TDs, 4 INTs
-79.2 passer rating pic.twitter.com/YzhRPFHdbR— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) November 20, 2023
Pickens implied that he wanted out of Pittsburgh earlier this month. Something has to change. Mike Tomlin sometimes seems like he’s too proud to admit when he’s f*cked up. If the Steelers had a league-average QB and a league-average offensive coordinator, they’d be an elite team and a legitimate Super Bowl hopeful. As it stands, they’re still 6-4 and would be the AFC’s No. 7 playoff seed if the season ended today. That may be hardest to believe above all these other Pickett-related stats.
Look, I’m a Bengals stan. Joe Burrow is out for the season. It sucks. That said, I’ll have even higher hopes for 2024 if the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to employ Kenny Pickett and Matt Canada. Knock yourself out with that, Mike Tomlin. Please keep it up! I’m sure your fans are thrilled…
