Cam Heyward says the 'sky's the limit' for Kenny Pickett, under one condition

Now that Kenny Pickett essentially has a full year of starting experience in the NFL under his belt, expectations are ramped up. Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cam Heyward has nothing but faith in the second-year quarterback.

Heyward has a lot of faith in Pickett, who was named the starter early in the 2022 season. Although he was a rookie, he kept the Steelers in the thick of the playoff race until the final week of the season.

“Going into the second year for our quarterback, I think the sky’s the limit for him,” Heyward said on the 3 and Out podcast. “I think Kenny has done a tremendous job to get us to this point. But I know he’s chomping at the bit for more. He’s a hungry quarterback.”

Statistically speaking, Pickett’s first year under center left something to be desired. He threw for 2,404 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions. The Steelers posted a 7-5 record with the former Pitt star leading the offense.

But what impressed Heyward most was Pickett’s poise.

“Anytime it wasn’t going his way, he never felt out of sorts or like the moment was too big for him,” he said.

Without question, there are a lot of areas where Pickett can improve entering his second season. But what Heyward wants to see is Pittsburgh putting the quarterback in a better position throughout the course of a game.

“Every time we’ve needed a big drive at the end of a game, he was able to answer the call and answer the bell,” he said. “I just look forward to him not waiting for the fourth quarter, let’s get off the bus doing that.”

What about the Steelers’ defense in 2023?

Pickett’s improvement will be vital to Pittsburgh’s success in 2023. But high expectations don’t solely fall on his shoulders. Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith says he believes the defense could be the best in the NFL.

“I know 100 percent we can be the best defense in the NFL, especially if we all stay healthy,” Highsmith said, per Steelers.com. “I am excited about the guys that we have. We have depth at almost every position. It’s been good seeing guys come together and get better and better every day. The sky is the limit for us. I am excited to see how we continue to grow.”

Pittsburgh has made some changes defensively during the offseason. The Steelers have added Patrick Peterson, Keanu Neal and Joey Porter Jr. in the secondary. In the linebacker room, Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts are the new additions.

The Steelers finished last season with a 9-8 record, narrowly missing the playoffs.