While we can’t definitively say that any player will have a great NFL career after only eight games, it’s safe to say that the Houston Texans and their fans feel pretty good about quarterback C.J. Stroud. Conversely, the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans have to at least have some concerns about Kenny Pickett.
One fact demonstrates the difference in the two young quarterbacks.
Pickett was the only quarterback selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in 13 games as a rookie in 2022, starting 12 of them. Pickett has also started every one of Pittsburgh’s eight games in 2023. The Steelers defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-16 on Thursday, with Pickett’s fourth quarter touchdown pass to Dionte Johnson standing as the game winner. It was Pickett’s only touchdown of the night and the 13th of his career.
Stroud, like Pickett, also threw a game-winning touchdown pass in Week 9. And like Pickett, Stroud has also started all eight of his team’s games in 2023. And that’s about where the similarities stop. Because while it took Pickett 20 starts and 21 games to reach 13 career touchdown passes, Stroud needed only eight to complete his 14th career touchdown pass.
CJ Stroud has more career touchdown passes than Kenny Pickett
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) November 5, 2023
What’s crazier about the stat is that it’s not as though Stroud has significantly more talent around him. The Steelers actually have a better record.
Despite that, the staggering differences in the production of the two quarterbacks is glaring.
https://t.co/wrwfvkA0M9 pic.twitter.com/o36QhhQwRr
— Patrick Storm (@PatrickStormHTX) November 6, 2023
And Stroud doesn’t have George Pickens and Diontae Johnson https://t.co/nUXH7SduKi
— Speak Up (@_SpeakU) November 6, 2023
lol holy shit https://t.co/Ah8qFcfmLt
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) November 5, 2023
https://t.co/4EZqzH9rTg pic.twitter.com/ojqGld0bZ7
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 6, 2023
pickett has exceeded 200 passing yards in nine of his 21 NFL starts. stroud has five such games in seven starts. https://t.co/X06oETtgNx
— Denny Carter (@CDCarter13) November 5, 2023