New Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith met with incumbent starting quarterback Kenny Pickett in Florida, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. That meeting went well as they try to embrace Pickett and giving him an opportunity in Year 3.
“Even as they sort out their quarterback outlook, the Steelers have started the process of rebuilding third-year passer Kenny Pickett. I’m told new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith recently spent time with Pickett in South Florida and that the two had a “great” meeting. The sentiment among many here in Indy — including some with the team — was that Pickett could get another chance after a disastrous 2023 season due in part to the offense’s overall struggles under then-OC Matt Canada. Smith should help maximize Pickett’s skill set,” Fowler wrote.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan said the team has “full faith” in starting quarterback Kenny Pickett, and though they anticipate adding competition to the position this offseason, the team is excited about the future with Pickett as their starting quarterback.
“I have full faith in Kenny,” Khan said while speaking to the Pittsburgh media at the NFL Combine on Thursday. “He’s shown us some good things. Obviously, there were some issues with the offense and I’m excited about the impact that Arthur Smith is going to have on him. Arthur is very optimistic about Kenny. I know they’ve communicated. We’ll have some strong competition there and we’ll see how it goes.”
Khan reiterated that he believes that the change from Matt Canada to Arthur Smith at offensive coordinator will have a positive impact on Pickett, and he doesn’t expect that to change with the likely addition of at least two more quarterbacks to the roster this offseason.
“Right now we have one quarterback under contract,” he said. “As you guys know, we’re a team that’s always kept three and that’s probably going to be the path that we take. So we have some work to do. We are excited about Kenny and excited about the impact that Arthur Smith is going to have on the offense and Kenny, and Tom Arth also.”
So whoever signs or is traded for, or is drafted to be the other quarterbacks in the Steelers’ room should understand that they are competing for, not usurping Pickett’s role as they enter.
