Kenny Pickett pushed back on several reports on his abrupt departure from the Steelers, telling reporters on Monday that he was “confident in the way he handled it.”
Pickett was shockingly traded to the Eagles on Friday after the Steelers had signed Russell Wilson and quickly reports started to surface that the former 2022 Steelers first-round pick had a very negative reaction to the addition of the former Broncos and Seahawks QB.
But the new Eagles quarterback told reporters in the City of Brotherly Love that the situation wasn’t what it seemed to be.
“I think the communication is what it is. It was behind closed doors. I’m confident in the way that I handled it. I handled it the way I should have handled it,” he said during Monday’s news conference, according to ESPN. “I’m excited to be here. It worked out so well that Philly was the place I ended up landing in. Everything happens for a reason and I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Kenny Pickett Getty Images Various reports from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette painted Pickett’s reaction to the trade in a negative light, noting the Steelers “made the move because of the way Pickett was poorly handling the arrival of Russell Wilson.”
The outlet also reported that Pickett had canceled an out-of-town workout with the team’s wide receivers and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that “once Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson, Pickett preferred to move on.”
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Pickett didn’t address specific reports or conversations that he had, but said that it had been time for him to get a fresh start elsewhere.
“I wanted to get a chance to go somewhere else and continue to grow my career,” Pickett said. “The fact that it is in Philly, the place that I grew up, found the love for the game here, with a great coaching staff, great players … I think it’s an awesome opportunity to join this team.”
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala did appear to provide a little bit more context to what the conversations between Pickett and the Steelers had been before he was dealt.
Russell Wilson AP The Steelers had reneged on their “pledge” to put Pickett in a position to succeed, she reported.
Pickett will now go to an Eagles team that is looking to turn the page after an underachieving season in 2023.
He’ll back up Eagels’ starter Jalen Hurts and be part of a QB room that also includes 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee.
Pickett, who grew up an Eagles fan, threw for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 games with the Steelers.
