Heading into the 2022 NFL draft, the title for QB1 is very much in the air. Dive into the scouting report for Pitt QB Kenny Pickett below.
Overview
In 2021, Kenny Pickett had a wonderful senior season. Posting 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, he was a finalist for the Heisman trophy. After this season, it was announced that he would be attending the 2022 Senior Bowl. That was likely done to raise his draft stock, Pickett has already begun receiving first-round hype and QB1 talk. He has also managed to stay relatively healthy throughout his career.
This is the stuff you want to see from Kenny Pickett. Feels the pressure, steps up in the pocket, and then fires an absolute missile downfield for a dime and a touchdown. Great play.pic.twitter.com/MFSm5VS5xl
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 19, 2020
The Good
Pickett is a joy to watch play. Firstly, it is clear that he loves football. He routinely will dive for first downs and look to extend plays and after he does so will celebrate and talk trash. When he gets going, it is fun to watch.Â
From a playing perspective, Pickett has many interesting traits. The first of which is his athletic ability. This coincides well with his running ability of course which is fantastic. While he isn’t Lamar Jackson, he will be one of the better running quarterbacks in the NFL. He is not just an athlete however as he throws a very beautiful ball down the field and is clean and efficient mechanically. In addition, he manages the pocket very well and does not seem bothered by pressure. He throws the ball with good velocity to all levels of the field and is a very accurate passer. His ability and willingness to throw on the run are commendable as well, even if it gets him in trouble at times. His downfield accuracy is routinely great as well. Sees the entire field and moves through progressions well.
The most exciting thing about Pickett is the mentality he plays the position with. Consistently aggressive, he will push the ball down the field, escape the pocket, and scramble for big plays. For this reason, wherever he goes, he will be loved by his teammates.
Kenny Pickett: 23 deep touchdown passes over the last two seasons
Most in College Football over that spanâï¸ pic.twitter.com/RrZ6PUlWmz
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) December 7, 2021
The Bad
However, he is not without fault. For all of his aggressiveness, Pickett definitely gets overzealous at times. Oftentimes, he will attempt to force throws into double coverage and, at times, triple coverage. The rate at which this happens is simply way too high and appears to be mostly due to overconfidence. While Pickett is a fantastic downfield passer, he does not have top-tier arm strength.
Overview
I was very pleasantly surprised by Pickett’s film. Not only is he a fiery leader who will do whatever it takes to win the game, but he is also tremendously talented. Going forward, Pickett will be attending the 2022 Senior Bowl where he could raise his stock tremendously. Currently being discussed as a potential first-round pick, I am 100% on board in this regard. His willingness to attack downfield and extend plays jives well with the modern NFL. Pickett will fit well with a team that intends to run a spread passing offense with an emphasis on the vertical passing game. An exciting young passer, Pickett has the potential to be a starting NFL quarterback for a long time.
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*Top Photo: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic