-
Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH — Hours after quarterback Russell Wilson officially signed a contract with the Steelers, the team has traded 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, league officials say. told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.
In exchange for Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 120), the Steelers will receive a 2024 third-round pick (No. 98) and a 2025 seventh-round pick, sources told Schefter. You will receive two rights.
That value is close to what the Washington Commanders acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for quarterback Sam Howell, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
With this move, Wilson becomes the only quarterback under contract with the Steelers. Pickett, who finished the season as Mason Rudolph's backup, was expected to compete with Wilson for the starting spot in training camp. But sources told ESPN that many within the company viewed Wilson as a starting quarterback. As a result, sources say Pickett preferred a fresh start elsewhere.
Pickett, who grew up in New Jersey as an Eagles fan, will now back up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.
After six seasons at Pitt and two years with the Steelers, Pickett started 24 games and went 14-10, completing 62.6 percent of his attempts and gaining 4,474 yards. He also threw 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.
Pickett was selected from a subpar quarterback draft class to replace Ben Roethlisberger. His tenure was marked by a handful of fourth-quarter comebacks, but was marred by an incompetent, stagnant offense and injuries.
Although Pickett's rookie season, which started by removing Mitch Trubisky at halftime against the Jets in Week 4, ended as expected and had a strong preseason, Pickett's second year was under offensive coordinator Matt Canada. It got off to an eventful start. Through the first five weeks of the 2023 season, Pickett threw five touchdown passes and had four interceptions as the offense struggled to sustain drives. Pickett was released by Canada midway through the season, and after injuring his ankle and undergoing tightrope surgery, Pickett was inactive for the final five weeks of the regular season.
