The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a trade to acquire Kenny Pickett from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The deal, which is pending a physical, will see the Eagles send a 2024 third-round pick (No. 98 overall) and a pair of 2025 seventh-round selections to the Steelers in exchange for Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 120 overall).
The acquisition of Pickett, the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, provides the Eagles with a promising young signal-caller to serve as the primary backup to Jalen Hurts.
This move comes on the heels of the Steelers’ decision to sign veteran Russell Wilson as their new starting quarterback, paving the way for Pickett’s departure from Pittsburgh.
For Kenny Pickett, a New Jersey native, the trade is a homecoming of sorts, as he grew up cheering for the Eagles and even met Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb as a youngster.
The 25-year-old quarterback joins the Eagles after an impressive collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh, where he set numerous school records and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2021.
He wasted no time making an impact in the NFL back in 2022, setting a franchise record for most passing yards with 327 in his first year with the Steelers. He went on to lead all rookies with 2,404 passing yards that season, becoming just the second rookie in Steelers history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark.
The year 2023 witnessed Kenny Pickett as the starting quarterback for his team, completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions over the course of the first 12 games.
An ankle injury sidelined him late in the season, but he finished his Pittsburgh tenure with a respectable 14-10 record as a starter over two campaigns.