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

[Northern_Blitz]

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.

It certainly helps Pickett that he went to a well-managed team.

[feltdizz]

It certainly helps Pickett that he went to a well-managed team.

well managed? Hold up.. the way its told on here we are one the worst managed teams in the NFL

[Mr.wizard]

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.

100% he is better than both of those guys.

[feltdizz]

100% he is better than both of those guys.

I’m curious to see if the 2023 QB’s are better than 2022.

As of now I think we will see Pickett, Howell and Ridder to start the season.

Young and Stroud should also start day 1 but I’m going to use first year vs first year.

Only Pickett can really be measured since he is the only one with significant playing tike his rookie year.

Thank goodness we didn’t draft Corral. I was actually pretty high on him if Kenny was gone but even he admitted he is way behind schedule due to the system he played in college. Getting hurt didn’t help him either but it already looks like he won’t get a shot in Carolina.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I think we can all agree that the top 2 are easily top 2, which is why they are expected to go 1&2. It seems that there is discussion that Pickett belongs in the conversation with Levis and Richardson, who Kiper expects to go 3&5. Seems like the Steelers got pretty good value by grabbing Pickett at 20, for a guy whose value is on the same level as two guys expected to go top 5 in a QB rich draft. I was against the pick, but it looks like the value is there.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

100% he is better than both of those guys.

Richardson is a big and very good athlete and so-so quarterback. I view him as a 2nd round pick based on his upside. But as a qb, his game film sucks. He rates here as a 5th- 7th round pick or rookie free agent. I view Pickett who I did not have a first round grade on either as a better NFL QB with far less if an upside . The economics of the position ( 2nd year contract stars cost at least 20 million a year ) and the fact that rookie QB contacts are cheap mean some team will over draft him. Bank on that.

[feltdizz]

Richardson is a big and very good athlete and so-so quarterback. I view him as a 2nd round pick based on his upside. But as a qb, his game film sucks. He rates here as a 5th- 7th round pick or rookie free agent. I view Pickett who I did not have a first round grade on either as a better NFL QB with far less if an upside . The economics of the position ( 2nd year contract stars cost at least 20 million a year ) and the fact that rookie QB contacts are cheap mean some team will over draft him. Bank on that.

The biggest problem with Richardson is once he makes a bad throw his confidence tanks.

[WindyCitySteel]

It certainly helps Pickett that he went to a well-managed team.

Offensively? High school level.

[Oviedo]

The biggest problem with Richardson is once he makes a bad throw his confidence tanks.

Richardson is this year's Malik Willis. Great athlete who can make things happen with both his arm and legs. They are also both the same in that they need about two years of seasoning.

Watched quite a few of Richardson's games and he is very inconsistent

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Richardson is this year's Malik Willis. Great athlete who can make things happen with both his arm and legs. They are also both the same in that they need about two years of seasoning.

Watched quite a few of Richardson's games and he is very inconsistent

Is Willis 6'4+ 235+ pounds with 10.5 inches hands and runs a 4.43? No way. This guy can run over DB and leave most players in the dust. And he didn't play at Liberty either. That why he is is hyped the way he is.