Getty Image / Jaiden Tripi
The Philadelphia Eagles were hoping to have acquired a competent backup quarterback when they traded with the in-state Pittsburgh Steelers for former Steelers starter Kenny Pickett. After all, he had a winning record in starts in his first two years, something few backups can claim.
The preseason isn’t the end-all, be-all, but right now that looks like a terrible trade after another mediocre preseason outing for the former Pitt Panther against the New England Patriots.
If you look at the box score stats, it wasn’t that bad of a game for Kenny Pickett. After all, he completed 11-13 passes! But, those 11 completions went for a putrid 67 yards, and the advanced stats were far worse.
Kenny Pickett had 11 first half completions
those insanely averaged 0.7 air yards/comp
0.7!!
17 total dropbacks
4 sacks taken
-0.48 EPA/dropback
5.2 YPA
4.8 air yards/attempt https://t.co/TZ011A5O2e
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 16, 2024
This comes after a Preseason game last week where he didn’t complete a single pass over ten yards in the air downfield. For an NFL quarterback who went in the first round two years ago, that’s really unacceptable.
Eagles fans and NFL observers took notice of just how bad Kenny Pickett was, too.
If you’re a Pittsburgh Steeler fan and had to spend your last 2 years convincing yourself Kenny Pickett could be a franchise quarterback, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
— Eagles Fan Central (@EagleFanCentral) August 16, 2024
How Kenny Pickett ended up being a first rounder needs to be studied
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) August 15, 2024
Watching Kenny Pickett is something. Steelers fans were in hell
— Isaiah 🪐 (@RatiodByHurts) August 15, 2024
Meanwhile, the man that Kenny Pickett is competing with for the backup job, Tanner McKee, was 15-19 for 140 yards, a much better performance.
Could Kenny Pickett get cut? That seems fairly unlikely. But, he definitely could end up as the third-stringer in Philadelphia.
The Eagles beat the Patriots, 14-13.