If the NFL had a most improved player award like the NBA, Kenny Pickett would be among the top candidates for 2023. Pickett showed a lot of promise during his rookie season and will only continue to get better. With the situation around him improving, Kenny Pickett should make a massive leap in 2023.
The statistics from Pickett’s rookie campaign appear underwhelming, but they don’t tell the full story. The rookie showed real progression as a quarterback and as a leader. Pickett’s statistics also greatly improved as the season progressed.
Pickett had a rocky start to his NFL career. He replaced Mitchell Trubisky at halftime of week three against the Jets. In his first half, he threw three interceptions, albeit not all of them were his fault. In his first five games in the league, he totaled eight interceptions and only two touchdowns.
While this may seem like a really bad sign, the second half of his season was much better. After week nine, Pickett only threw one interception in seven games. He also threw five touchdowns during that span. This gave him a passer rating of 84.0 in these games which is just below the league average.
By far the most important aspect of the 2022 season was the command that Pickett showed in the locker room. Pickett proved himself to be a leader among the offense and the entire team. Throughout the season many players expressed how energized they were to play for him. Pat Freiermuth recently said in an interview that “He’s done a great job of leading all of us, and I’m excited to see his role expand.”
This is especially important because of the youth the Steelers have on offense. His oldest starting pass catcher is a 26-year-old Diontae Johnson. George Pickens was just drafted alongside Pickett while Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth were selected the year before. Even though he is going into his second season, Pickett, at 25, is one of the older players on the offense.
This confidence translated directly onto the field as the season progressed. Pickett led four game-winning drives over the season. Among these are two last-minute drives in back-to-back weeks against the Raiders and Ravens. The comeback win against the division rival Baltimore Ravens seemed to be the mark of a new era in Pittsburgh.
When Pickett was inserted into the lineup in week three of 2022, he was not put in a position to succeed. The offensive line was atrocious, and he had very little experience. This should all change in 2023 along with other improvements.
A good offensive line is vital for any young quarterback. The Steelers knew this and invested heavily into the protection in the offseason. The team added veteran offensive guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency. They also spent their first-round pick on offensive tackle Broderick Jones from Georgia. This should improve the pass protection for Pickett and allow him to be more poised. Additionally, the running game should improve which opens up more options.
The other main issue during 2022 was the unfamiliarity with offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Canada has faced a lot of criticism from Steelers fans over his two year tenure but he is back again. Another year with the same duo should help both Canada and Kenny Pickett leap to new heights.
The Steelers also added another veteran presence Allen Robinson in free agency. The combination of Robinson and Calvin Austin should provide great play at the third receiver position. Lastly, the drafting of the massive tight end Darnell Washington should supply Pickett with a great red zone option.
Stay tuned for more exciting NFL content, including roster moves, in depth analysis, and more news from around the league.
Feature image courtesy of Steelers.com
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