The Pittsburgh Steelers' season flashed before their eyes on Sunday when Kenny Pickett went to the ground with a knee injury. The Houston Texans pressured the pocket all day long and Matt Canada controversially opted for a shotgun pass on fourth-and-short, rather than a run. Pickett was sacked and subsequently helped off the field before being ruled out.
After dropping to 2-2 on the young season, the Steelers face a potential dilemma. If Pickett is forced to miss an extended period of time, the AFC North is within reach. The Steelers' defense has been excellent on balance. The offense less so, but hey, defense wins championships.
Pickett has been billed as the future of the franchise in Pittsburgh. He's the hometown kid and his impressive preseason instilled a great deal of optimism in the fanbase. It has been a rocky campaign so far, but Pickett has the faith of his franchise and his fanbase. That's easier said than done.
There's a chance the Steelers simply let Mitchell Trubisky step into the starting role for as long as Pickett is out. He's a former No. 2 pick with years of NFL experience under his belt and a close working relationship with Pickett. There are worse backup QBs in the NFL.
That said, if the Steelers opt for a bold replacement instead, here are a few reasonable trade candidates.
No. 3 Kenny Pickett replacement for Steelers to trade for: Cooper Rush
Cooper Rush started five games for the Dallas Cowboys last season. He went 4-1, completing 58.0 percent of his passes for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions on the entire season. He kept the Cowboys firmly in the postseason race when Dak Prescott went down. That's the goal for any backup QB.
At 29 years old, Rush doesn't have a ton of NFL miles on the odometer, but he has been around the league for a while (six years) and has performed when thrust into the spotlight. The Cowboys, however, traded for Trey Lance before the season. Most teams don't keep three QBs on the roster, especially after dealing real assets to acquire their "third-string" option.
If Jerry Jones has such a strong belief in Lance, to the point where he didn't even consult his staff before pulling the trigger, then why place another obstacle between him and true heir apparent status? Rush feels like the most expendable backup in Dallas and the Steelers could presumably nab him for cheap.
It's fair to wonder if Rush is better than Trubisky, but at least there's another competent option in the locker room with a proven track record of success. The Steelers won't swing for the more prominent starters with Pickett lined up as QB of the future, but there are backups around the league who warrant investment.
No. 2 Kenny Pickett replacement for Steelers to trade for: Malik Willis
Want to replace Pickett in the interim while also lighting a fire beneath him? Trade for Malik Willis, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft who would be directly positioned as long-term competition for the QB reins in Pittsburgh.
The Titans initially appeared content with Willis as the heir to Ryan Tannehill's job in Tennessee, but Kentucky's Will Levis became the No. 33 pick in April's NFL Draft. Now there's a three-pronged battle for the QB job there with Tannehill quickly losing his grip. There's a chance the Titans wait patiently to let Willis and Levis duke it out in training camp 2024, but for the right draft compensation, maybe the Titans pick now.
Willis started three games in Tannehill's stead last season. He went 1-2 under center. In eight appearances overall, he completed 31-of-61 passes for 276 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also added 123 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Not great, but the small sample size absolves him of true interrogation. Willis deserves a longer runway eventually; maybe the Steelers can provide it.
His dual-threat ability is a potential selling point for the Steelers, who could use a spark in the offense. Willis would be positioned as the clear No. 2 behind Pickett long term, but the Steelers may be in a position to give him an extended trial run this season. Willis would probably prefer to stick it out for the No. 1 job in Tennessee, but trades don't offer much choice, unfortunately.
No. 1 Kenny Pickett replacement for Steelers to trade for: Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater made the Pro Bowl in 2015, his second NFL season. It has been a steady downhill spiral in the years since, in part due to injuries. He spent time behind Drew Brees in New Orleans before one-year starting stints in Carolina and Denver. Last season, he was Tua Tagovailoa's backup in Miami. Now he's the Jared Goff replacement for the Detroit Lions.
The Lions, however, have a talented rookie QB in Hendon Hooker. His big arm elevated Tennessee back to college football royalty and he looks the part of Goff's eventual successor. If the Lions have confidence in Hooker long term, then there's reason to invest in the short term. Clear out the QB room and make him the primary backup. While Hooker sits on the inactive list, there's another experienced backup, David Blough, in the mix to decrease the sting of losing Bridgewater.
Bridgewater still has the ability to win football games. He completed 49-of-79 passes (62 percent) for 683 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions in five appearances (two starts) last season. He went 7-7 as the Broncos' starter in 2021. He doesn't take a ton of downfield risks, but Bridgewater generally manages the game well and delivers crisp passes to his playmakers. He's a servicable fill-in and, probably, a mild upgrade over Trubisky.
This feels more in-line with Pittsburgh's goals than Willis. Pickett is still the man, even if he needs a new offensive coordinator to break out. Bridgewater brings veteran savvy and enough talent to keep the Steelers in the AFC North mix, but he doesn't require long-term investment, nor should it take significant draft capital to pry him away from the Lions.