It has been almost a year since the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Since then, Pickett has taken over the starting role, won games, and shown signs of promise, yet some are still skeptical about him as the franchise quarterback. 

Well, at the league's annual owner's meetings, Tomlin was an open book when it came to Kenny Pickett and his future in Pittsburgh  

"I'm excited about Kenny individually in terms of the growth that he's capable of making and, and what he's willing to do to realize that," Tomlin said during his presser at the meetings in Phoenix. "I think I'm probably more excited about that because I've just been around him intimately now for 12 months. There were some anticipation things because of the close proximity that we've all talked about quite a bit, but the reality of having worked with him for 12 months, it's just more evidence of what we should be excited about — his willingness to work, his professional approach, his maturity in processing. It's exciting."

Exciting is the adjective everyone wants to hear when it comes to the working relationship between the head coach and quarterback. 

And while it was well documented that Pickett was an experienced rookie given his time at Pitt, the jump to the NFL will be hard on any first-timer. 

The key part of that quote is that Tomlin believes in Pickett's approach to becoming better next season and beyond. 

NFL seasons are a lot like physiques. Meaning the summer body you want, is built in the Winter and spring. 

The 2023 season is being built right now, behind the scenes, despite six months until the games actually matter. 

Pickett knows that these months, these dog days of his offseason, this is where he can and will elevate mentally and physically, displaying the key traits needed to win come the fall. 

And in fairness to Pickett, his play down the stretch shouldn't require an obvious answer from the head coach on how he feels about his young quarterback's future. Leave that to the film. 

https://twitter.com/Luciow1992/status/1638964969197694979

This clip displays two of the three "A's" that all franchise quarterbacks possess. 

What are these "A's" you ask?

1. Accuracy 
   
2. Arm Strength 
3. Anticipation 

The last part is the only one missing as Pickett waited a touch long for the in-breaker to come open, but this embodies Tomlin's statement. 

That anticipation, the refinement, the seeing it before it happens, that's what reps in the film room create. That's what the hours in the offseason are for. 

So if Pickett is laying the groundwork his head coach says he is, I would say Mike Tomlin isn't the only one in Pittsburgh who should be excited.