Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Has 3 TDs And 3 Incompletions This Preseason, Is Probably Worth Starting Over Mitch Trubisky

Justin Berl. Getty Images.

I wrote recently about how Russell Wilson popped off the screen during the 2012 preseason. It was undeniable that he was the best quarterback on that Seahawks team despite being a rookie third-round pick who began camp as the third-stringer. Not long ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers had relegated first-rounder Kenny Pickett to QB3 behind Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. Pickett has made so much of his limited opportunities that you can't help but get hyped.

I'm honestly sick of this shit as a Bengals fan, but you have to respect how stable of an organization the Steelers have maintained during the Mike Tomlin era. The man with the most famous stare in sports has never had a losing season. He's dealt with the absolute human circus that was Antonio Brown, not to mention Ben Roethlisberger's whole general vibe.

Kenny Pickett led a game-winning drive in his preseason debut, and orchestrated another TD drive last night in hurry-up mode. The poise, pinpoint ball placement and rapid decision-making from Pickett suggest he's prepared to play on Sundays.

In stark contrast to Trubisky, who started just one season at North Carolina, Pickett enters the NFL with a wealth of starting experience from college. Those game reps are invaluable, and it also helps that Pickett played college football at Pitt in the same exact stadium the Steelers play in.

I don't know what else we need to see. I don't know what else Tomlin needs to see. I'm not saying this just so that the Bengals can feast on a first-year QB in Week 1. While I do feel like Trubisky got screwed by Matt Nagy's offense during his time in Chicago, he's never really popped to me as far as arm talent is concerned. He was always hesitant getting through his progressions and reading defenses, too. 

Here's the main reason why I'd give the edge to Kenny P over Trubisky. Pittsburgh has a bad offensive line, and there are a couple obvious ways to combat that. First, if you're mobile enough, you extend the play with your legs, break the pocket and make something happen. While Trubisky has the edge in raw athletic ability, Pickett has more than enough wiggle to make off-schedule plays, too. He showed he could do that in college.

Already to this point in their careers, to reiterate, I see Pickett as a faster processor than Trubisky. Unlike a lot of first-year QBs, he can throw with anticipation, whereas Trubisky has always been more of a "see it" thrower even in the NFL. Again, I blame Nagy for stunting his development. I'm just saying.

Take in this play from Trubisky, along with the following data from Warren Sharp: It's 3rd and 3. I know the pass protection isn't amazing. STILL, he had three seconds to get rid of this ball. You need three yards. Get the fucking ball out!!

You can be skeptical about Pickett and his paltry air yards per attempt average. It's not like that will hold true during the regular season. It can't. He's simply making decisive reads, bailing out the bad blocking in front of him and taking what the defense gives him. I also realize vanilla schemes are part of the preseason. Who do you trust more to adjust when more exotic looks are introduced, though? Trubisky or Pickett? I'm already siding with the latter.

I've said since before the draft that Pickett could be about 85% of Joe Burrow, which is a high compliment. Similar to Mac Jones last year, Pickett has an advanced football IQ and is coming into the league closer to his ceiling and with more polish than, say, Malik Willis.

Mike Tomlin should just get on with it. I feel like there's nothing Trubisky does far and away better than Pickett. Put the rook in. See how he handles it. You gotta see what you have in him before next year's highly anticipated QB draft class comes about.

Twitter @MattFitz_gerald