CBS Sports ranks Steelers’ Kenny Pickett as NFL's 5th-worst starting QB

After a draft that’s gotten rave reviews, optimism abounds for the Pittsburgh Steelers headed into the 2023 season. What can turn the Steelers into true contenders, the general thinking goes, is if Kenny Pickett elevates his game in his second season.

One opinion from a national source, though, isn’t so convinced that might happen.

CBSsports.com released its NFL QB power rankings — and it wasn’t too kind to Pickett. Writer Cody Benjamin slotted Pickett 28th among the 32 projected starters.

“How far does ‘grit’ get you?” Benjamin wrote in his explanation for Pickett’s ranking. “Certainly few young QBs are better-suited to grow thanks to an improved Steelers front and pass-catching group, but Pickett thrived more as a late-game fighter than efficient full-timer as a rookie.”

Statistically among all-encompassing analytics, Pickett ranked 20th among 31 qualifiers last season in ESPN’s QBR. Footballoutsiders.com’s comprehensive stat pegged Pickett 23rd among 34 quarterbacks.

Pro Football Focus graded Pickett exactly in the middle (16th) among the 31 quarterbacks who had the most dropbacks in 2022 — but it should be noted that from Week 12 on, Pickett was graded by PFF as the NFL’s second-best quarterback and as the best passer.

On the negative end of Pickett’s numbers, he was 31st among 32 at traditional passer rating, dead last in adjusted yards per attempt and 31st among 33 in adjusted net yards per attempt. Thirty-two QBs threw more touchdown passes than Pickett’s seven, but only 14 threw more interceptions (nine).

Among quarterbacks ranked above Pickett by CBS were the three rookies drafted in the first round — the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young (No. 21), Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson (26) and Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud (27), as well as a first-time starter in the Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love (24), a veteran who appears on the verge of being replaced (Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans at 25), a player who struggled immensely with his new team last season in the Denver Broncos’ Russell Wilson (19) and a third-year QB whose passing metrics last year were almost unanimously at or near the bottom of the league in the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields (16).

The only quarterbacks ranked by CBS below Pickett were, in order: the New England Patriots’ Mac Jones, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield, the Atlanta Falcons’ Desmond Ridder and the Washington Commanders’ Sam Howell.

Pickett, who will turn 25 next month, took over at halftime of Week 4 last season after being the Steelers’ first-round pick. He started 12 of the Steelers’ final 13 games, winning five of his final six starts.

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