Mike Tomlin uses tremendous metaphor to explain the chance of starting a rookie quarterback and wide receiver

Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into 2022 with an issue they haven’t had in more than a decade.

With Ben Roethlisberger now retired and Juju Smith-Schuster a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, there’s a realistic chance the Steelers could potentially start a rookie at both quarterback and wide receiver in 2022.

The Steelers selected former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round and followed that up by snagging Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver George Pickens in the second round.

“You know, I’m open,” Tomlin said when asked by Rich Eisen on two rookies starting at key positions on offense this season.

“When you got red paint, you paint your barn red. If those guys are deserving, then we will play them. We played four rookies, I think, on offense last year because they were deserving.”

Eisen followed up by confirming Mike Tomlin was saying Pickett has a realistic shot to start at quarterback.

“I don’t want to overstate it, Rich, but certainly he’s not going to be excluded from the opportunity,” the Steelers’ coach added.

Mike Tomlin explains decision to draft Kenny Pickett

Following the 2022 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin dished on the behind-the-scenes details surrounding their No. 1 selection Kenny Pickett. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose the Pittsburgh Panthers star with the No. 20 overall pick on night one, placing high hopes on the quarterback who could take over after the long Ben Roethlisberger era.

“First of all, he had a couple of elements of his game that were really attractive,” Tomlin said on The Rich Eisen Show. “His ability to anticipate and his professional-level accuracy. Oftentimes, the college guys have a ways to go in those areas. When we talked about a high floor it’s usually because they’re pro ready in those areas and he was.

“We also had the proximity angle and a bird’s eye view of his growth and development. He does the things that come with the quarterback position in a very natural way whether it’s dealing with and leading his teammates or talking to the media. None of that appears to be a chore for him.”

Kenny Pickett and Mike Tomlin got to know each other in passing over the course of four years while the young quarterback was with the Panthers. That comfortability was a big reason why the Steelers are taking a chance on Pickett for the future of the franchise.