Kenny Pickett: Rookie quarterback has likelihood to start out week one for Pittsburgh Steelers, says head coach Mike Tomlin | NFL Information

Kenny Pickett was the primary quarterback to be drafted as he returns to returns to Heinz Subject, the place he has performed faculty soccer for Pitt for the previous 5 seasons.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says quarterback, Kenny Pickett – who they drafted within the first spherical – might be the group’s week one starter

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has advised first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett may begin for the group in week one of many 2022 season. 

Pickett was the one play-caller to be taken within the opening spherical of the Draft on Thursday evening as he landed with the Steelers at twentieth total.

He arrives as competitors for offseason acquisition Mitchell Trubisky and backup Mason Rudolph following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger and tragic passing of Dwayne Haskins.

“He actually has an opportunity [to be week one starter] and I agree with that sentiment of his readiness from an expert perspective,” stated Tomlin, chatting with NFL Community on day three of the Draft.

“These two issues that actually attracted us to him from a flooring standpoint, we thought he had pro-level anticipation, pro-level accuracy and infrequently these are two variables that actually require a whole lot of adjustment.

“We felt he got here ready-made in these methods, hopefully it is an asset for him being able to compete.”

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Pickett wants no introduction to his environment nor will he have to maneuver his belongings far as he returns to Heinz Subject the place he has represented Pitt in faculty for the previous 5 seasons.

The 23-year-old completed third in Heisman Trophy voting and was named first-team All-American in a standout 2021 as he threw for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns, each single-season information.

“We had been actually interested in the intangibles issues that everybody is conscious of, the stellar season he needed to lead his group to an ACC Championship, being a Heisman finalist, rewriting the Pitt document books, being thought of alongside the likes of Dan Marino, we noticed all of that,” stated Tomlin.

“However we additionally noticed his course of, his development and maturation as a soccer participant, his development and maturation as a frontrunner, we noticed his day-to-day.

“Simply issues from a proximity standpoint, usually occasions the place you are speculating via this course of, we weren’t speculating in any respect and felt actually snug due to that intimate data that we have now of the younger man past the issues all of us know.

“One of many issues that was very evident about Kenny being subsequent door is he is a ridiculous competitor so we’re enthusiastic about placing him within the combine and watching him compete towards Mitch and Mason.”

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Former New York Jets middle, Nick Mangold introduced their spherical 4 draft decide from the 72nd flooring of The Shard in London

Tomlin additionally welcomed the chance to work with Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, who was picked up by the Steelers with the 84th decide within the third spherical on Friday.

“We’re so enthusiastic about this younger man and his expertise stage,” he stated. “He is skilled and younger being a third-year junior that has performed fairly a bit, he is excelled at actually the best stage you’ll be able to excel at at school soccer in that division.

“I believed he represented himself extraordinarily properly in some Sunday-like matchups. I watched a whole lot of the Alabama matchup as an example.

“All of these issues being stated, we nonetheless really feel like he is considerably uncooked, he has methods to go from a developmental standpoint and that is one thing we coated right here at Pittsburgh. We’re enthusiastic about being a part of his development course of.”

Upon deciding on Pickett the Steelers proceeded to bolster their receiving choices on day two by deciding on Georgia’s George Pickens with the 52nd decide, earlier than including Memphis wideout Calvin Austin in spherical 4.

In one of many tales of day three, additionally they launched Michigan State fullback Connor Heyward, the youthful brother of Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward.