In every NFL Draft cycle, there is a player who seemingly comes out of nowhere and becomes a favorite prospect of fans who hope their team is the eventual landing spot. This year, that name is Kenny Pickett, the quarterback from the University of Pittsburgh. As the Reese’s Senior Bowl continues, where are the potential landing spots for Pickett in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft? What are Pickett’s strengths, weaknesses, and injury concerns, and can his skills translate to the NFL and fantasy football?
Kenny Pickett’s strengths, weaknesses, and more
Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Zach Wilson. What do they all have in common? They were relative unknowns until they burst onto the scene with a massive final year in college and catapulted up draft boards. Even Daniel Jones fits into this category. All those players were selected no later than pick No. 7 in the NFL Draft.
In 2021, Pickett became the quarterback to go on a meteoric rise. Pickett passed for 12,303 yards and 81 touchdowns in his career with the Panthers. He finished his college tenure with the most 300-yard passing games (16) and most 400-yard passing games (five) in school history. In his final season (13 games), the 6’3″, 221-pound redshirt senior completed 334 of 497 passes (67.2%) for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
Strengths
Pickett has everything you look for in a pocket passer. He has a fluid, yet short throwing motion that lacks wasted movement. While he isn’t breaking fingers, he has NFL-caliber velocity, throws a ball receivers like to catch, and can do it from multiple arm angles. His ball placement and ability to alter trajectories check all the boxes. From a fantasy aspect, that means drives keep going, and skill players keep getting the ball in their hands. Pickett has the skills to elevate the fantasy talent around him — plain and simple.
His ability to be a field general will endear him to his coaches. He is not prone to turnovers, has shown the ability to extend a play, and works well out of script. Pickett has all the confidence in himself and his arm but does not get arrogant with his ability. He knows when a window is closing or when the risk is not worth the potential reward.
Weaknesses
It’s hand size season, the only time of year where it is socially appropriate to ask a man about the size of his hands. The NFL makes it a talking point, but Pickett reportedly being double-jointed and already having played in colder weather should mitigate the concerns.
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It’s not all perfect, though. Pickett can get a little jittery when the pocket gets messy. He sometimes bails when stepping up is the proper move. He won’t wow you with Lamar Jackon-level speed, but when given a lane, Pickett can pick up the first down. In a somewhat lackluster QB draft class, Pickett deserves to be the first selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Injury history
Pickett has a relatively clean bill of health. While he cited injury concerns when opting out of the Panthers’ bowl game, he has managed to avoid any serious injuries.
The most notable scare came in 2021 against Western Michigan. In a 7-7 game, Pickett scrambled up the middle for a first down but was hit from behind. He fumbled the ball and then stayed down on the field in obvious pain. He left the field under his own power but did not return. Aside from that, Pickett passes the injury concern test.
Top fantasy fits for Pickett in the NFL
With projected draft capital and team needs in mind, which teams are likely landing spots for Pickett? Can he help alter the trajectory of an NFL franchise from Day 1?
Pittsburgh Steelers
We’ve been talking about this landing spot all year as a poetic, Hollywood-esque story. A guy from New Jersey gets recruited to Pitt, plays all of his career in Heinz Field, and then moves locker rooms and never changes his address. Pickett already has a relationship with head coach Mike Tomlin, and Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada recruited him to Pitt in the first place.
“The possibility of getting drafted there would be unbelievable,” Pickett said of the Steelers. “Pittsburgh is really my second home, so that would kind of be a dream.”
Ben Roethlisberger hung up his cleats after 18 seasons, the most ever by a QB who started and ended his career with the same team. We also have seen enough to know that Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins are not long-term solutions. The Steelers have kicked the can for long enough and need to make a decision for the future.
They have the 20th overall pick, which might be a bit low to get Pickett. But if they can trade up to the 12-15 range, they could have a shot at him. The story writes itself, and Pickett in Pittsburgh makes the most sense in terms of landing spots.
Denver Broncos
Obviously, if the Broncos can get Aaron Rodgers, no one in Denver is taking Pickett over him. However, if Rodgers does not come to the newly-for-sale Broncos, Pickett becomes a desirable name and makes this an intriguing landing spot.
The building blocks are there. Denver has a great defense when healthy, and the unit is only getting better with the likes of Patrick Surtain Jr. just ending his first NFL season.
On offense, the Broncos are loaded with talent at playmaking positions. Not only would Pickett have Javonte Williams in the backfield, but on the perimeter, it’s Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, KJ Hamler, and Noah Fant.
This team is set to win and has the sixth-most projected cap space. I would be highly enthusiastic if the Broncos were Pickett’s landing spot.
Washington Football Team
Washington was one of the most disappointing teams of 2021. The defense — which we thought would be elite — regressed, and the offense sputtered out. Taylor Heinicke has developed a cult following, but he is not the answer. WFT’s biggest need is at quarterback, and Pickett can help fill that void for years to come. Add in a few moves to improve the OL, and they could be competing for the NFC East title.
Terry McLaurin is one of the best receivers in the NFL and needs a QB who can take advantage of his skills. Plus, Curtis Samuel should be able to recover from his nagging groin injury by next season. Washington also has tight end Logan Thomas and one of the better receiving backs in the league in Antonio Gibson, both of whom can be short to intermediate options for Pickett. Washington is altering its team name — as the organization tries to change its image, Pickett could become the face of the franchise.
