The Pittsburgh Steelers need to consider all options with Kenny Pickett, especially if he continues to miss targets and struggles going through his progressions. Of course, that decision will come a few weeks down the road, and hopefully such a talking point doesn't remain in the court of public opinion beyond this week, as Pickett has another chance to prove himself.
However, if Pickett cannot move the ball against the Raiders, Texans and Ravens, Pittsburgh has a bye week prior to their Week 7 matchup against the Rams, which could allow them to hit the reset button at the QB position.
In all likelihood, Pickett will have the full season to prove himself. I'm very aware that any trade to replace Pickett is a longshot. Nonetheless, the way he's playing right now, Pickett isn't long for the Steel City. He has a rating of 69.4 with three interceptions on the year. That's not good enough.
Kenny Pickett replacements: Steelers could trade for Justin Fields
Trade one struggling QB for another? Who says no?
Such a deal is unlikely for so many reasons. The Bears sound committed to Fields, despite the frustration of their fanbase at the moment. The same can be said for Pittsburgh and Pickett. However, a mobile QB like Fields could have a better chance at succeeding in Matt Canada's offense, if he is to survive beyond this season. Fields value is also down quite a bit from its peak, so why not take a swing?
Fields has a lot of work to do as a passer, but in an offense that prefers running the football and controlling the clock like Pittsburgh, he'd be a far better fit than Pickett. Frankly, the biggest reason a trade for Fields makes sense is because he'd come rather cheap, as FanSided's Alicia de Artola wrote:
"The return on Fields will be limited. Josh Rosen was traded one year after being drafted for a 2019 second-rounder and a fifth-rounder in 2020. Trey Lance, who was drafted ahead of Fields in 2021, was just traded to the Cowboys for a measly fourth-round pick. But it may be better to act now than to get nothing for him."
If the Steelers are seriously having doubts about Pickett, they may as well try another option.
Kenny Pickett replacements: Steelers could trade for Kirk Cousins
Pittsburgh fans may not want to hear this, but Pickett's ceiling could very well be Kirk Cousins. Pickett strikes many pundits as a game manager with a decent arm, but not one who can win a game on his own accord. Pickett needs talent around him, and while the Steelers are convinced they've done just that, he has yet to play up to that aforementioned ceiling.
Thankfully for Omar Khan, Cousins may be available. The Minnesota Vikings are 0-2 on the season and Cousins is in the final year of his contract. If Pittsburgh is serious about winning this year rather than punting their window a year down the road, acquiring Cousins should immediately jumpstart this offseason. He has the experience Pickett lacks.
Having a QB like Cousins would also immediately eliminate any and all excuses available for Matt Canada's offensive system. Canada has received scathing reviews from Pittsburgh fans for years, as both Ben Roethlisberger and now Pickett have failed to live up to the billing in Canada's scheme. Cousins is a quarterback at the tail end of his prime. If the offense doesn't work with him, then perhaps it's not the player's fault, after all.
Cousins would come at an expense, but he's a likely trade deadline target for QB-needy teams.
Kenny Pickett replacements: Steelers could draft Shedeur Sanders
Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is rocketing up NFL Draft boards thanks to the Buffaloes 3-0 start. Sanders statistics speak for themselves, but he can read the field better the most college QB prospects and offers mobility -- something fellow first-round prospects Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have as well.
Sanders is listed as QB3 on some draft boards right now. If that remains the case, he should be right in the Steelers range if this season goes off the rails. Mike Tomlin is not one to completely tank a season away. Pittsburgh will win at least six games, if not more, even with Pickett, Mitch Trubisky or myself starting at QB. It's just what Tomlin does. But if the Steelers are in the top-10 of this draft and know for certain Pickett isn't the answer, expect them to take another QB.
Sanders, the son of Deion, perfected his throwing motion this offseason as he entered the Power 5. It has worked out for him and then some. Assuming Shedeur continues to improve and put up gaudy stats, Pittsburgh will be lucky if he's available at their selection.
