During the 2021 college football season, Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett saw his stock rise as much as any player in the country. He went from being a fringe prospect to being a Heisman finalist and a potential first-round pick. But with so much uncertainty at the quarterback position heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, where will Pickett be selected? More importantly, does he have what it takes to be a long-term starter in the NFL?
College Career
Pickett is a great example of a quarterback who slowly but surely got better during his college career. He made one start in what became a redshirt season in 2017 but became Pitt’s full-time starter in 2018.
Despite starting all 14 games that season and helping the Panthers reach the ACC Championship Game, Pickett threw for less than 2,000 yards. He was steady but unspectacular over the next two years, throwing 13 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in each season while going 14-7 as a starter.
Of course, Pickett finally exploded as a fifth-year senior in 2021. He was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country, throwing for over 4,300 yards while completing over 67% of his passes.
Without much help from the Pitt running game, Pickett also threw 42 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. He led the Panthers to an 11-2 record and an ACC title while also finishing third in the Heisman voting.
Pros
Physically, Pickett looks the part of an NFL quarterback. He has the size and frame of a traditional pocket passer and just enough mobility for opposing teams to respect him as a runner. While he doesn’t have elite arm talent, he gets enough velocity on the ball to get it where it needs to go.
Pickett also has good mechanics, which allows him to make accurate throws, putting receivers in a position to make a play after the catch. Plus, as a four-year starter in college who made 49 career starts, Pickett is a finished product who also shows plenty of poise.
Cons
As his 2021 stats indicate, Pickett made great progress in his final college season, cleaning up some of the issues that plagued him early in his career. Most of his remaining issues are common for young quarterbacks and can be cleaned up with experience and coaching in the NFL.
The only serious drawback with Pickett is that he doesn’t have elite arm talent but will occasionally make throws that only quarterbacks with elite arm talent can make.
Projection
Pickett has always had talent and potential and finally started to show it in 2021. In a weak quarterback class, he should surely be a first-round pick and could be the top quarterback selected based on the preference of teams.
With his development this past season, he’s close to a finished product but does lack some upside. At best, he could have a career similar to Kirk Cousins, and if nothing else, Pickett should be able to have a long career as an above-average backup in the NFL.