Steelers trade Kenny Pickett to the Eagles after signing Russell Wilson, sources tell the AP

Fri, Mar 15, 2024
NFL News (AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The brief and tumultuous Kenny Pickett era in Pittsburgh is over.

The Steelers are trading the quarterback to the Philadelphia Eagles, multiple sources told The Associated Press. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not official.

Pittsburgh will receive a third-round pick in this year's NFL draft and two seventh-round choices in the 2025 draft in exchange for Pickett and Pittsburgh's fourth-round pick this year.

The trade comes just hours after the Steelers signed nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson to a one-year deal to compete with Pickett for the starting job, though all signs appeared to be pointing to Wilson having the edge when the team reported for training camp at Saint Vincent College in July.

Wilson declined to say he expected to be the starter when asked during his introductory press conference on Friday and added he and Pickett had connected shortly after Wilson agreed to terms with the team, saying they were both focused on making the Steelers better.

Instead, Wilson now finds himself as the only quarterback on the roster after the club cut Mitch Trubisky and third-stringer Mason Rudolph - who guided the Steelers to the playoffs after Pickett underwent ankle surgery in early December - signed with Tennessee.

The Steelers' pursuit of a playoff berth in the present has led to questions about the future

Steelers QB Pickett denies speculation he told coaching staff he wouldn't be No. 2 behind Rudolph

Steelers sticking with Mason Rudolph at QB against the Ravens even with Kenny Pickett available

Pickett, a first-round pick out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2022, went 14-10 as a starter but struggled to stay healthy and be a difference maker for an offense that languished near the bottom of the league.

___

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

WILL GRAVES Graves is a national writer for The Associated Press, based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NFL, MLB, NHL, the Olympics and major college sports. "