It took longer than normal but the first quarterback was finally selected at No. 20, with Pittsburgh signal-caller Kenny Pickett.
Pickett will not be going far. In fact, his home stadium will remain the same, as he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was emotional upon getting drafted.
An emotional Kenny Pickett is staying in Pittsburgh. 🙌@kennypickett10 | @steelers
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/9a3r5F9KvO
— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2022
Between the selection itself and Pickett’s reaction to it, the response to Pittsburgh’s decision was generally positive.
Kenny Pickett will be a GREAT quarterback. The Steelers will go to Super Bowls again.
This is a night we will remember forever.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 29, 2022
No idea how Kenny Pickett will do, but that was a pretty cool moment.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) April 29, 2022
This dude has already won over the city of Pittsburgh and now gets to put on the black and gold. Considering who was available I love it, absolutely love it. Now let’s have some cold ones. https://t.co/xyLmeX1GLY
— Collin Schmitt (@collinlschmitt) April 29, 2022
good pick, bad pick, who cares.
this reaction is awesome. tough not to root for kenny pickett. https://t.co/pyiSeQyTJq
— john bray (@itsjohnbray) April 29, 2022
✨🏈#NFLDraft
Pitt QB Kenny Pickett is staying in Pittsburgh #HereWeGo #Steeelers https://t.co/q9ZrYcma6n— Janelle Hall (@JanelleHallWTAE) April 29, 2022
I love everything about this https://t.co/hw9Hf6JaPD
— Anthony Musolino (@amusolino71) April 29, 2022
Yes. As a Pitt alum and a Steeler devoted, I am excited. https://t.co/aXzAX4LX6i
— Captain Cave Dad 👻💀 (@jeffrof) April 29, 2022
The feeling wasn’t unanimous, though. Other draft observers felt that Pickett should not be selected with Liberty quarterback Malik Willis on the board.
First QB off the board. Almost makes me feel bad seeing the young man's reaction and I'm sure the people around Pittsburgh will love this. But taking him (a mid-day 2prospect for me) over Malik is mind-blowing to me. 🤨#NFLDraft #2022NFLDraft #DraftTwitter #NFLTwitter #HereWeGo https://t.co/GK0FZswTgZ
— Halil's Real Footballtalk (@halilsfbtalk) April 29, 2022
Damnit! I don’t know how to feel about the @steelers selecting Pickett. I mean, I know he can play. But I kept hearing about this kid, Willis. So did they take Pickett because he’s better or because he’s home-grown? Damnit, I’m concerned. I’m concerned!!!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 29, 2022
There are some reasons to doubt Pickett. The size of his hands were seen as an issue heading into the draft. Though, to be fair, if the small hands didn’t bother him in Pittsburgh at college, it’s less likely to be an issue at the same stadium in the NFL.
Pickett completed 67.2% of his passes during the 2021 season for the Panthers. He threw for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a passer rating of 165.3 — or 116.6 with the NFL formula.
He also showed off his legs — sometimes in controversial fashion.
Here's the replay of the fake slide from Kenny Pickett: pic.twitter.com/70fa2pezkY
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 5, 2021
Overall, Pickett ran for 241 yards with five touchdowns.
The first quarterback being taken at No. 20 is the lowest since the 49ers took Virginia’s Jim Druckenmiller No. 26 in the 1997 NFL Draft.
This was the latest QB1 has gone since 1997 😲
Live reaction to Kenny Pickett staying in Pittsburgh (PFF users would've selected Malik Willis 😶) ⬇️https://t.co/QM5eR2N6TV https://t.co/VC7FV4gDOe
— PFF (@PFF) April 29, 2022
Pickett is the first quarterback the Steelers have drafted in the first round since 2004, when they drafted Ben Roethlisberger.
