Mel Kiper: Kenny Pickett would be fifth-best QB in this year's draft class

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers' Kenny Pickett would be fifth-best QB in this year's draft class, says ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

JOE RUTTER | Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Kenny Pickett was the first — and only — quarterback taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft when the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed him with the No. 20 overall pick.

Had Pickett been part of this year’s deeper crop of quarterbacks, he still would fall in line as a mid-first-round pick. He just wouldn’t be among the first few quarterbacks to go off the board.

That is the opinion of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who, in a conference call with media members Tuesday, was asked where Pickett would rank among this year’s passers.

“If he were in this draft, he’d probably be in the fifth spot, solidly behind that top group,” Kiper said.

In his latest mock draft that was released Monday, Kiper projected four quarterbacks being taken among the top five picks. They were Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud going first to Carolina, Alabama’s Bryce Young second to Houston, Kentucky’s Will Levis third to Indianapolis (as the result of a mock trade with Arizona) and Florida’s Anthony Richardson fifth to Seattle.

“Some would even say (Pickett) would be in there with Levis,” Kiper said of the former Penn State quarterback who spent his final two seasons at Kentucky. “Maybe some people would argue he’d be ahead of Levis. I would say he’d still be in that first round, certainly the fifth quarterback taken with four guys potentially going in the top five.

“Pickett would be right around where he was (in 2022).”

Kiper didn’t have a quarterback outside the quartet of Stroud, Young, Levis and Richardson going in the first-round this year.

Not only was Pickett the only quarterback taken in the opening round a year ago, he was the only one selected until the middle of the third, a span of 73 picks.

Pickett’s 12 starts were the most of any rookie passer, and he helped engineer three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives as the Steelers won seven of their final nine games to finish 9-8.

https://triblive.com/sports/steelers...-mel-kiper-jr/

[Iron City Inc.]

This is likely true but hardly news. This board spoke at length last year about how good the qb class was going to be this year.
How well Pickett matches up with the 4 top qb's in 23 is TBD.

[NorthCoast]

Seems about right. Although the only reason Levis is in the conversation of top 10 is because of his athleticism and physical stature. Performance goes to Pickett over him.

[feltdizz]

I say 3rd not 5th. Levis and Richardson aren’t better than Pickett. Bigger arms? Sure, but neither will pan out IMO.

This is the typical Kiper hype for QB’s that have measurable’s and get pushed up the board by hype machines.

[WindyCitySteel]

The way QBs are evaluated, easily 5th best, but he'll have a better career than most of them I'm guessing. Lot of boom/bust in this draft class, I don't expect Richardson to get a 2nd contract, Levis may end up like Zach Wilson if he goes to the wrong team, Young is way too small and slight to last in the league, and who knows about Stroud - I don't know if he has the mental makeup to take a beating on a bad team.

Give Kenny two more years, then if he doesn't look like The Guy, sell the farm to move up for Arch Manning.

[feltdizz]

The way QBs are evaluated, easily 5th best, but he'll have a better career than most of them I'm guessing. Lot of boom/bust in this draft class, I don't expect Richardson to get a 2nd contract, Levis may end up like Zach Wilson if he goes to the wrong team, Young is way too small and slight to last in the league, and who knows about Stroud - I don't know if he has the mental makeup to take a beating on a bad team.

Give Kenny two more years, then if he doesn't look like The Guy, sell the farm to move up for Arch Manning.

wait.. if he will have a better career than most how is he 5th best?

I know you said the way QB’s are evaluated today but Kiper had Mitch ahead of Mahomes.

What exactly makes someone better? Better looking?
measurements?
college stats?

I really have a hard time understanding how QB’s who didn’t play well in college get these high ratings due to how they look physically.

I think Young is the best QB this year but tons of people are knocking his size. They admit he is better but the size concerns them so they lean towards Stroud. I will lmao off if Carolina picks Stroud and he is a bust while Young goes on to have a great career.

Pick the best QB not the biggest hand size or tallest QB. Its weird how people still fall in love with physical measurements over game tape.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Steelers' Kenny Pickett would be fifth-best QB in this year's draft class, says ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

JOE RUTTER | Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Kenny Pickett was the first — and only — quarterback taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft when the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed him with the No. 20 overall pick.

Had Pickett been part of this year’s deeper crop of quarterbacks, he still would fall in line as a mid-first-round pick. He just wouldn’t be among the first few quarterbacks to go off the board.

That is the opinion of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who, in a conference call with media members Tuesday, was asked where Pickett would rank among this year’s passers.

“If he were in this draft, he’d probably be in the fifth spot, solidly behind that top group,” Kiper said.

In his latest mock draft that was released Monday, Kiper projected four quarterbacks being taken among the top five picks. They were Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud going first to Carolina, Alabama’s Bryce Young second to Houston, Kentucky’s Will Levis third to Indianapolis (as the result of a mock trade with Arizona) and Florida’s Anthony Richardson fifth to Seattle.

“Some would even say (Pickett) would be in there with Levis,” Kiper said of the former Penn State quarterback who spent his final two seasons at Kentucky. “Maybe some people would argue he’d be ahead of Levis. I would say he’d still be in that first round, certainly the fifth quarterback taken with four guys potentially going in the top five.

“Pickett would be right around where he was (in 2022).”

Kiper didn’t have a quarterback outside the quartet of Stroud, Young, Levis and Richardson going in the first-round this year.

Not only was Pickett the only quarterback taken in the opening round a year ago, he was the only one selected until the middle of the third, a span of 73 picks.

Pickett’s 12 starts were the most of any rookie passer, and he helped engineer three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives as the Steelers won seven of their final nine games to finish 9-8.

https://triblive.com/sports/steelers...-mel-kiper-jr/

The article says that, honestly I think QB S. Bennett is better. I do. In 2022, he completed 68 percent of his passes for 4,127 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran in for 10 scores. He did this vs the best competition in college football in the SEC. He was better as a passer than Pickett in many ways ( completion % yards, per attempt and rushing TD's sacks taken )

In the 20-yard shuttle in the combine, not only did he top the list among all QBs. He was also faster than all but four wide receivers who did the drill. His 4.20 seconds was only behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Andrei Iosivas, Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Ronnie Bell. He rans a 4.67 40 and a very impressive 1.59 10 yard spilt. He is kid quick and hard to sack as he was only caught 9 times last year and 9 times the year before. He has 10" hands and has good ball security and a good pump fake. He will do well as a play action QB, I think.

How his arm? Well at the combine he tied Levis for MPH in velocity who had one of the strongest ams there so it's very good. Better than Kenny's for sure

He is also a tough kid and proved he can take a hit in college. I like him in round three, and I would not be surprised is he is picked higher.

[WindyCitySteel]

wait.. if he will have a better career than most how is he 5th best?

I know you said the way QB’s are evaluated today but Kiper had Mitch ahead of Mahomes.

What exactly makes someone better? Better looking?
measurements?
college stats?

I really have a hard time understanding how QB’s who didn’t play well in college get these high ratings due to how they look physically.

I think Young is the best QB this year but tons of people are knocking his size. They admit he is better but the size concerns them so they lean towards Stroud. I will lmao off if Carolina picks Stroud and he is a bust while Young goes on to have a great career.

Pick the best QB not the biggest hand size or tallest QB. Its weird how people still fall in love with physical measurements over game tape.

It's all about measureables, unless you have a year like Burrow did. Brady would go undrafted. You know the game.

[feltdizz]

It's all about measureables, unless you have a year like Burrow did. Brady would go undrafted. You know the game.

True, and I can’t wait to see a few teams get burned if they put measurable’s over game tape and intangibles.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

It's all about measureables, unless you have a year like Burrow did. Brady would go undrafted. You know the game.

Yup, Brady went in the 6th as it stands... as much as measurables matter, it seems they can't measure everything... and KPs got some intangibles that cannot be measured.