The Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles for three draft picks, multiple outlets reported.
The Steelers also gave up a fourth-round draft pick (No. 120 overall) in this year’s draft, according to ESPN. Pittsburgh will receive a third-round draft pick (No. 98 overall) this year and two seventh-round draft picks in 2025.
The trade comes after veteran quarterback Russell Wilson agreed to a one-year deal this week to join the Steelers.
The move slots Pickett behind Jalen Hurts as the Eagles’ No. 2 quarterback. Pickett, 25, made 12 starts for the Steelers last season, with the team going 7-5 in those games. He completed 62.0 percent of his passes in 2023 for 2,070 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions.
Pickett was expected to return from an ankle injury and close out the 2023 regular season as the Steelers’ starter, but Mason Rudolph ended up as the starter over the final three weeks of the season. Pittsburgh won all three of those games and qualified for the playoffs.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said health was not a consideration for his decision to start Rudolph over Pickett in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.
Pickett was the 20th overall selection out of the University of Pittsburgh in the 2022 draft, Pickett completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 4,474 yards and 13 TDs with 13 interceptions.
The Steelers now will be on the market for a backup quarterback.
Pittsburgh parted ways with Mitchell Trubisky, who signed a two-year contract to back up Josh Allen with the Buffalo Bills. Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday to compete with Will Levis and Malik Willis for the starting job.
–Field Level Media
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