The Eagles, more than any other team, recognize the value of having depth at the quarterback position. They are also aware of how critical it is to keep an eye on league transactions and anticipate any negative effects.
The Eagles saw a great chance to assess the cost of acquiring 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who started for the team to start the 2023 season, as a backup quarterback for Jalen Hurts, when the Pittsburgh Steelers added veteran Russell Wilson to their quarterback position.
The Steelers were apparently prepared to let go of Pickett and concentrate on helping Wilson.
The Eagles declared early on Saturday morning that they had reached an agreement to acquire Pickett through a trade. two years ago, in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick (No. 98 overall) and two 2025 seventh-round picks, the No. 20 overall pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 120 overall). The transaction is awaiting a physical. In the NFL Draft held next month, the Eagles will retain their total of eight selections. The Eagles last acquired a seasoned quarterback in a trade when they added Gardner Minshew in August 2021 to back up Hurts with depth and experience.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Pickett, who plays for the team he grew up supporting, gets a fresh start on the opposite side of the state. Pickett, whose father, Ken, was an Eagles fan, was born in Oakhurst, New Jersey.
I even remembered having a childhood encounter with Eagles Hall of Fame quarterback Donovan McNabb at a fan festival.
Prior to Pittsburgh selecting him as the first quarterback off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickett was a standout player at the University of Pittsburgh, where he led the Panthers to the 2021 ACC Championship and a final ranking of No. 13. He also finished third in the Heisman Trophy vote. School single-season records were set by Pickett with 4,319 throwing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, 47 total touchdowns, and 334 completions.He was Pitt’s all-time leader in wins (32) passing yards (12,303), pass completions (1,045), total offense (13,112), touchdown responsibility (102), and passing touchdowns (81) at the end of his collegiate career.
In Week 4 of his rookie season, the soon-to-be 26-year-old made his NFL debut. The following week, against the Buffalo Bills, he recorded a franchise-high 327 passing yards in his first career start. In Week 6 against Tampa Bay, Pickett became the eighth rookie in NFL history to defeat quarterback Tom Brady. He also became the fourth rookie quarterback to win in their first start at home since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
With just one interception in his final eight games of the season, Pickett displayed a great deal of promise. The Steelers finished 9-8 overall after winning six of their last seven games.
As the only rookie in Steelers history to pass for 2,000 yards or more, Pickett topped all NFL rookies with 2,404 passing yards, and he joined Ben Roethlisberger (2,621 in 2004).
Pickett started the first 12 games of the previous season, winning seven of them while completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards and six touchdowns against four interceptions. Early in the Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he sustained an ankle injury. Following a three-game winning streak at the end of the regular season, the Steelers rode their hot hand into the playoffs, where they were defeated by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. Mason Rudolph was their quarterback.
Starting for two seasons, Pickett was 14-10 with 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions while completing 62.6 percent of his throws for 4,474 yards.
Hurts, Pickett, and Tanner McKee are the Eagles’ current quarterbacks. The No. 2 pick from the previous season, Marcus Mariota, joined Washington as a free agent.
