Mueller: Pickett has potential, but pressure will be immense

In the end, the Steelers’ perceived interest in Liberty quarterback Malik Willis was just that – perceived.

Pitt’s Kenny Pickett was Kevin Colbert’s guy, was Mike Tomlin’s guy, was Art Rooney II’s guy all along, and it may not have been close.

“Honestly, never thought he would make it to us at 20,” Colbert said. “To get that player at 20 was certainly a pleasant surprise.”

Colbert’s words were backed by the fact that it took the Steelers virtually no time at all to turn in their pick, which set off a wave of jubilation in a city where Pickett turned an also-ran football program into a top-15 outfit by turning in the greatest season by a quarterback in Pitt history.

The Steelers clearly valued production over potential, and their seemingly keen interest in Willis and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder when compared to Pickett may have just been a byproduct of being so familiar with Pickett by virtue of the fact that he was their next-door neighbor.

Pickett’s tape was inarguably the best in this year’s class of quarterbacks, and the Steelers are banking on the fact that he can come in, compete for (and win) the starting job, and hit the ground running.

Two things: One, I thought the best play for a quarterback was in next year’s class, and two, if the Steelers were going to do it this year, I thought they should take a home-run swing on Malik Willis, who has significant bust potential, but also the kind of gifts that could turn him into a superstar.

Having said that, I never thought Pickett would have been a bad choice, and I think of all the quarterbacks in this year’s class, he has the best chance to have a good career, perhaps a very good one. The great unknown with him is whether or not he’ll make yet another leap in performance when he’s surrounded by professionals on offense – but also going against professionals on defense.

The other thing is that the Steelers are allergic to tanking, a reality I raged against, but was never going to change. That meant that C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young were never going to be serious candidates to succeed Ben Roethlisberger, unless the Steelers were willing to give up significant draft capital to get them.

Pickett fell to them at 20, and while my one gripe with the pick itself was that Colbert and Tomlin may have been able to trade down at least a few spots and still get their man, it’s clear that they weren’t inclined to tempt fate.

If you’re never going to tank, and you’ve identified your guy at the most important position in sports, you pick him. The Steelers did.

Make no mistake, the pressure on Pickett will be orders of magnitude greater than what it was at Pitt. He carries with him the enormous weight of expectations of an entire city, and a fan base that is not just nationwide, but worldwide.

Everything I’ve seen and heard from the Steelers’ newest franchise quarterback suggests that he’s built to handle the scrutiny. He was never too high after wins and great individual performances, and never too low after losses. He dealt with adversity at Pitt, particularly in 2018, when the Panthers won the ACC Coastal, but Pickett’s individual play lagged. He didn’t blink, didn’t leave for a change of scenery. He persevered, and ultimately turned himself into a first-round pick.

When he addresses the media, he’s always measured. I would even use the word “boring,” but in the most complimentary sense, the way I would describe Derek Jeter’s or Sidney Crosby’s interview behavior. When every syllable that escapes your lips is going to be put under a microscope and parsed for hidden meaning, sticking to boilerplate talking points is a virtue, not a vice.

Pickett steps into a situation that should be favorable at the start. The Steelers have taken steps to upgrade their offensive line this offseason, and assuming Tyson Alualu is healthy and Stephon Tuitt returns, their defense has a chance to be a force again. Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and Diontae Johnson form the core of a solid skill cast that he can lean on early.

Pickett should have no trouble earning their respect; he cuts the profile of a football junkie and a born leader. He’s got the kind of quiet confidence that calls to mind Joe Burrow, though without quite the level of outward swagger.

The story of Pickett’s Steelers career will be how close he can get to Burrow on the field. Their respective NFL.com scouting reports are remarkably similar, though scouts saw Burrow as having a higher ceiling. If Pickett can get even close to Burrow’s stratosphere, the pick will be a home run for the Steelers, and the team will have a real chance at winning a Super Bowl during his career.

What his fullest potential is, and whether he can reach it is the million-dollar question, and an entire city will be holding its breath, waiting for an answer.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Mueller: Pickett has potential, but pressure will be immense