Report: Pittsburgh Steelers trading QB Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles

The Pittsburgh Steelers are sending quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for draft picks, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. The move brings the Pickett era in Pittsburgh to a close much earlier than expected but now, the former first-round pick can look ahead to what’s next. He’ll join the Eagles quarterback room led by Jalen Hurts for the 2024 season.

The terms of the trade dictate that the Steelers get pick No. 98 and two 2025 7th-round picks. Meanwhile, the Eagles get Pickett and pick No. 120 overall.

Though it seemed like the Steelers wanted to continue working with Pickett, Schefter shared that the young quarterback opted to move on after Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson.

Pickett started 24 games over the course of his two-year career in Pittsburgh, going 14-10. In total, he recorded 4,474 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 62.6% completion percentage.

Hailing from Pitt, Pickett went No. 20 overall to the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the only quarterback taken in the first round. Desmond Ridder, selected in the third round by the Falcons, was also traded this week. He’s off to join the Arizona Cardinals.

Steelers sign Russell Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to sign one of the best available veterans at quarterback this week, inking Russell Wilson to a one-year deal.

Wilson led the Broncos to a 7-8 record as a starter this past season while throwing for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Now he is set to join a Steelers team that started three different quarterbacks in 2023 yet still managed to finish 9-8 and make the playoffs.

Wilson spent the first 10 seasons of his pro career as the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was named a Pro Bowler in nine of those years, including in 2013 when he led the team to a Super Bowl victory.

Wilson left Seattle as the franchise’s all-time leading passer with 37,059 yards and 292 touchdowns. The Seahawks traded him to Denver ahead of the 2022 season.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.