Consensus among Steelers fans is Kenny Pickett is a good pick

On a sunny Friday afternoon on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, where folks were congregating not far from Heinz Field, it was just about impossible to find a Steelers fan whose disposition didn’t match the weather the day after the first round of the NFL draft.

Among those from around the area who spoke with the Tribune-Review, it was nearly unanimous that Kenny Pickett, the former University of Pittsburgh star quarterback, was the right draft pick for the Steelers when he was still available when the Steelers picked 20th.

“I’m absolutely happy about Kenny Pickett. He’s going to be great for us,” said Damian McKay, 32, South Side, who works as a server at North Shore Tavern across Federal Street from PNC Park. “The kid has been playing here for (five) years already. He’s familiar with the stadium and the city. Everybody loves him. He’s mature, he’s good at reading the defense and he’s a good play-caller.”

Fans such as Kevin Ziperstein, a 50-year-old Steelers season ticket holder who lives in Shelton, Conn., said he would have hated to see the Steelers pass on another star Pitt quarterback as they famously did when they skipped over Dan Marino in the first round of the 1983 draft.

“I love the pick. I was home last night watching the draft and as soon as they announced Pickett’s name we started cheering,” Ziperstein said. “We had to make a splash with a quarterback in this draft to keep up with the division. I favor a pocket passer like Pickett, who also has the ability to run for a first down. It was a great, great pick.”

Some NFL pundits have criticized the choice of Pickett, saying the Steelers needed to prioritize filling positions other than quarterback. But these fans weren’t having any of it.

“I was wanting him to get picked because (Pitt) is my alma mater and I was worried about how we’re going to replace Ben Roethlisberger,” said 55-year-old Penn Hills native Debbie Mansfield, who now lives in Port Orange, Fla. She is back in the area to run in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Half-Marathon.

“Pickett is a good quarterback to have,” she said.

Brian O’Halloran, 48, San Francisco, is also in Pittsburgh to run Sunday’s Half-Marathon. His mom is originally from Greensburg, but he ended up becoming a fan of one of the Steelers arch rivals, the New England Patriots. As a Patriots fan, O’Halloran said he was jealous that the Steelers were able to draft Pickett.

“I think he’s going to be a good player,” O’Halloran said. “He’s an accurate passer and makes good decisions. I certainly didn’t want to see him falling to the Steelers, an AFC team. I was hoping he would go the NFC. But I’m looking forward to some future match-ups.”

Elsewhere, Chris Wertz of Latrobe said Friday that she was very happy when the Pittsburgh Steelers took Pickett.

“I was a little worried they might take that other quarterback, Malik Willis, but I was really happy when they took a local guy from Pitt. But my husband, Bob, he’s a Pitt graduate and he was very, very ecstatic,” Wertz said.

“And I think (Pickett) will do just fine. And it’s a hometown boy, now playing for the hometown professional team… the story doesn’t get any better than that,” Wertz said.

However, Matt Zitt of Unity was not as enthusiastic.

“With quarterbacks Bryce Young coming out next year from Alabama as well as C.J. Stroud from Ohio State, I think next year’s group will be a little better. Plus, you just signed Mitch Trubisky to a two-year deal, so you are going to play him,” Zitt said.

“I think they could have waited a year and filled another need they have,” Zitt said. “I would have liked to have seen them draft a wide receiver, cornerback or defensive lineman,” he added.

Joe Jelley of Armaugh said he thought all along that Pickett was the best of this year’s quarterback crop “and I’m glad they got him.”

“I really do think with his talent he can start from Day One,” Jelley said.

John Hoke, also of Unity, said he thinks heading into the season with Mason Rudolph as the Steelers quarterback would be a mistake and now the team has another option.

“I love the pick and we need it. I really think we wasted a draft pick with Rudolph a few years ago,” Hoke said.

“Now we can move forward. I think we need to pick a wide receiver, too,” he added.

Todd Shmigalsky of West Virginia is a lifelong Steelers fan and happened to be visiting a friend inside the Black & Gold Sports Attic along Route 119 in Youngwood with a friend around noon Friday.

Shmigalsky thinks the Steelers were hopeful of picking Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis, but once the Philadelphia Eagles moved up in the draft to pick him 13th, he thought Pickett was the choice.

“I think he was the most NFL ready of all the quarterbacks who were available this year,” he said.

“I think it was the most logical choice once Davis was gone. I mean (Pickett) broke a lot of Dan Marino’s records at Pitt and you have to have a lot of talent to do that. I think he’ll be good,” Shmigalsky said.

Ed Myers of Arnold was surprised that the Steelers selected Pickett.

“I’m pleased for him, but I’m worried for him also. I think it’s tough to play in the same town as a professional,” he said. “His situation has to be unique. I wish him well. If he does well, they’ll love him.”

Chris O’Shell, of Lower Burrell, said Pickett will be a good fit.

“I think he’ll slide in nice with (offensive coordinator) Matt Canada’s offense. I think it will be a good system for him,” he said. “It will be a nice, fresh start. That’s what we need. There was no other choice, really.”

Meanwhile, employees at various businesses in Hyde Park Plaza in Allegheny Township were also thrilled with the choice.

Faith Mason, 27, Parks Township, said she learned about Pickett from social media and is excited that a student from a local university was drafted.

“I used to follow football a lot. I saw it all over Facebook last night and, with Pickett, I’m hoping that he’s good for the team.”

Zak Keltz, 34, Harrison, said it will be nice to have somebody from Pitt playing a prominent role with the Steelers.

“(Pickett) is the most professional ready player in my opinion. His awareness of the game is impressive.”

Ed Sensor, 66, of Leechburg, is taking a wait-and-see attitude.

“We’ll see how he does in the NFL,” Sensor said. “Let’s give him a chance.”