Steelers legend believes team needs to build around Kenny Pickett

It seems the Pittsburgh Steelers are heading for an offseason filled with loads of adjustments, and lots of look like divided on whether or not or not quarterback needs to be one among them.

Although Kenny Pickett is 14-10 because the Steelers starter during the last two seasons, he’s averaging simply 179 yards passing per sport with a passer ranking of 78.8 and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 1. 

Whereas many are questioning if Pickett is actually franchise QB materials, four-time Tremendous Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw isn’t one among them. Bradshaw truly defended Pickett throughout an look on “Fox NFL Sunday,” stating the Steelers must encompass him with a greater supporting solid if they need him to succeed.

“They have to draft offensive linemen and shield their quarterback,” Bradshaw said. “Kenny Pickett is the reply at quarterback. You’ve bought working backs that may run with the soccer however you’re not giving them a crease — you have to enhance that offensive line.”

Pickett hasn’t performed since Dec. 3, however he’s been underneath fireplace this season for the dearth of noticeable progress since his rookie 12 months.

He’s truly averaging 12.4 fewer passing yards per sport with a worse completion proportion and a better proportion of dropbacks leading to sacks this 12 months than he did final season, per Pro Football Reference.

Actually, of QBs with 350 or extra dropbacks, Pickett has thrown for the fewest touchdowns (six) and yards (2,070) with the fifth-worst completion proportion (62) and passer ranking (81.4), and the sixth-lowest yards per go try (6.4), per PFF.

Whereas a few of Pickett’s inconsistency will be attributed to lately fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada, to Bradshaw’s level, he’s performed behind a shoddy offensive line for a lot of the final two seasons.

This 12 months, Pittsburgh’s offensive line has surrendered 172 pressures, 126 hurries, 31 sacks and 28 QB hits, per Pro Football Focus, with the 2 deal with positions accounting for 101 pressures and 15 sacks allowed.

The Steelers drafted Georgia offensive deal with Broderick Jones with the 14th total choose within the 2023 draft. In the event that they keep of their present draft vary (10-18), they might probably have a look at drafting Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Alabama’s J.C. Latham, Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Duke’ Graham Barton or Washington’s Troy Fautanu.