2022 was the dawn of a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers with Kenny Pickett taking over the quarterback spot. He was the only quarterback selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and took over the starting role in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills.
Kenny Pickett has some big shoes to fill, taking over for future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers have been the epitome of consistency for nearly decades and that tradition will be on him to sustain.
After finishing out the 2022 season on a high note, winning the last four games and seven out of the last nine, there is some optimism heading into 2023. A lot of that will depend on the performance of Kenny Pickett, who showed he had some ice in his veins late in games when the team needed him most.
What can we expect to see from the Pittsburgh product in 2023? Here are three early bold predictions for Kenny Pickett in the upcoming season.
3. Triples Touchdown Output
The Steelers were a grind-it-out team in 2022. They weren’t going to light you up offensively, relying heavily on the ground game and their defense to rack up wins. Part of that was certainly by design as Kenny Pickett was still finding his way as an NFL player.
In 13 games as a rookie, 12 starts, Kenny Pickett had only seven passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. Entering Year 2 and with a full offseason to acclimate himself and learn the nuances of the playbook as the starter, those numbers will increase.
He is going to total at least 30 touchdowns on the season, throwing for at least 25 and rushing for another five. His athleticism and running ability are underrated parts of his game as the Steelers should take advantage more this season. With the playbook opening up and the addition of Allen Robinson, there will be more chances to succeed down the field.
2. Throws Single-Digit Interceptions
The biggest issue that Kenny Pickett faced as a rookie in the early going was turnovers. He had two three-interception performances in the early going that kept the Steelers from picking up a win. Overall, he threw eight interceptions in his first five appearances.
During the bye week, whatever the coaching staff did to curb those turnovers worked to perfection. Kenny Pickett threw only one interception in his final eight appearances and Pittsburgh went 6-2, with one of the losses being when he suffered a concussion and was forced to exit in the first quarter.
In Year 2, turnover prevention will continue. He will throw single-digit interceptions on the season, carrying over whatever changes were made in the second half of 2022 into 2023 to keep the offense on track.
1. Leads Pittsburgh To AFC North Title
The Steelers once again look to have the makings of a strong defense. They addressed their cornerback needs in free agency and in the draft, which was their only weakness. While some people will point to the linebackers as an issue, this is a well-rounded unit that should be near the top of the league as long as they remain healthy.
That will make the lives of Kenny Pickett and the offense that much easier. With natural progression expected in Year 2, this Steelers team is in a position to surprise a lot of people.
Pittsburgh will keep Mike Tomlin’s record stretch of not having a losing season to start a head coaching career intact, as Kenny Pickett will lead the team to double-digit wins and the top spot in the uber-competitive AFC North, which could be the toughest division in the NFL.
