PHILADELPHIA – Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett thought he would be the next great Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, replacing Ben Roethlisberger and leading the Steelers offense for the next decade to a ton of success. After seeing the Steelers sign a veteran quarterback, Pickett realized his objectives would be derailed, leading to him demanding a trade and landing with the Eagles.
Pickett, who grew up in Ocean Township, spoke to the media Monday, the first time he did since the Eagles acquired him and a 2024 fourth-round selection (120th overall) from the Steelers Friday in exchange for their 2024 third-round pick (98th overall) and two 2025 seventh-round picks in exchange for the quarterback. Pickett said he is viewing the trade to get his career back on track and move on from the Steelers.
“I think it’s a good reset. I get the chance to play on this team and be in that quarterback room with a couple of great guys, help those guys out any way I can, and just be ready if my number is called somewhere down the road. It’s a crazy league and a crazy business. I’m going to try to put my best foot forward and be an asset for this team.”
Pickett will enter the season as the projected backup to Jalen Hurts, joining the quarterback room with 2023 sixth-round draft pick Tanner McKee. Pickett said he has already talked to both quarterbacks, new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier. His interactions with his new teammates were different from the experience he reportedly had in his final days with the Steelers after they signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wilson reached out to Pickett to greet him and said he was looking to compete for the starting job with him. However, Pickett was unhappy with how things went down and some of the discussions he reportedly heard, demanding a trade that eventually led him to Philadelphia. Pickett said he would not change how he approached the situation.
“I think the communication is what it is,” Pickett said. “It was behind closed doors. I’m confident the way that I handled it was the way I should have handled it. I’m excited to be here. It worked out so well that Philly was a place I ended up landing in, so I think everything happens for a reason, and I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Pickett fills the backup quarterback void created when Marcus Mariota signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders. Pickett’s mobility fits in with what the Eagles have done in the past, using the run-pass options (RPO) and the designed quarterback runs. Pickett said he has seen what Moore has done previously with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers with the play-action passing game and being under center,
“I wanted to get a chance to go somewhere else and continue to grow my career. The fact that it’s in Philly, the place where I grew up and found the love for the game here, with a great coaching staff and great players. I’m looking forward to meeting all these guys and a couple of weeks when everyone gets back into town, but it’s an awesome opportunity here to join this team.”
