Pitt QB Kenny Pickett is 1st quarterback selected in 2022 NFL Draft
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback off the board in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
His hometown Pittsburgh Steelers selected him at No. 20 overall, picking him as the longterm replacement for future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Kenny Pickett is the 1st quarterback off the board!
He's staying close to home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. pic.twitter.com/4UsLLIxoKl
— Saturday Road (@SaturdayRoad) April 29, 2022
Pickett was arguably the most productive passer in the country last season. He was a Heisman Trophy Finalist and threw for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns during his senior season.
He broke numerous single-season and career records at Pitt last season and led the Panthers on the ACC Championship. It was Pitt’s first-ever ACC crown and their first conference title since 2010 when they won the Big East.
Pickett will now presumably compete with former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky for starting reps. The Steelers signed Trubisky to a free agent contract this offseason.
Pickett is the first Pitt player to be taken in the first round since Aaron Donald in 2013.