ESPN analyst makes ridiculous comment about Steelers QB Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett wasn't perfect as a rookie in 2022, but he showed enough that the Pittsburgh Steelers are feeling good about their quarterback situation. Pickett started 12 games last season for the Steelers after taking over for Mitch Trubisky as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback. The Steelers went 7-5 in Pickett's 12 starts — not bad for […]
Kenny Pickett wasn't perfect as a rookie in 2022, but he showed enough that the Pittsburgh Steelers are feeling good about their quarterback situation.
Pickett started 12 games last season for the Steelers after taking over for Mitch Trubisky as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback.
The Steelers went 7-5 in Pickett's 12 starts — not bad for a rookie.
While Pittsburgh is feeling good about Pickett, we can't say the same for ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
Kiper, a draft analyst that ESPN continues to give air time despite his horrendous takes that are rarely correct, said during a conference call with reporters this week that Pickett would solidly be No. 5 among this year's group of quarterbacks in the draft.
I can see the argument for Bryce Young and CJ Stroud above Pickett, though I think there's a really good chance that Pickett ends up being the best of those three (time will tell).
But putting him behind Will Levis and Anthony Richardson is complete nonsense.
Levis is a turnover machine who often makes the wrong decision and gets rattled incredibly easy. Richardson has a ton of upside, but he's raw as a quarterback and still has a lot to prove.
Putting Levis and Richardson above Pickett is an insult to Pittsburgh's starting quarterback. Pickett has already proven that he can have success in the NFL while Levis looks like a potential bust and Richardson is a complete wild card.
I'm not sure why ESPN keeps giving Kiper a platform. In an age where there are a lot of draft analysts doing a lot of great work (many of them as independent analysts), it's bizarre that someone that's wrong as often as Kiper is still gets the benefit of ESPN's backing.
