This may not be what fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers want to hear, but it is absolutely the right decision.
Former first-round pick Kenny Pickett will still have a chance to win the starting quarterback job despite concerns about his ability.
The Steelers are not expected to bring in a quarterback who expects to start from day one. This is per a report from Gregory Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This falls in line with what has been reported for quite some time.
The Steelers have previously stated they want someone to compete with Pickett rather than take over. Additionally, a trade for someone who fits this description is also on the table. It is quite clear that the Steelers are leaving no stone unturned in their quarterback search.
On the surface, this path screams mediocrity at deafening levels. However, there is a certain way that organizations navigate quarterback contracts in the modern NFL. Pickett is entering his third year, and Pittsburgh will have to make a decision on Pickett’s fifth-year option after the season. While it is not the most exciting process, gathering as much intel as possible before picking up or declining that option is how this situation should be handled. Should Pickett win the starting job, the regular season would be when that occurs. If he gets beaten out by someone else in training camp, that decision was made before the season began.
Pittsburgh will learn a lot about its imminent future in the coming months. If they have someone they believe to be their starting quarterback moving forward, they can address the rest of the roster accordingly. If not, they know they will have to reset and push back their prospective competitive timeline.
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