Kenny Rodgers once penned the sage words, “You gotta know when to walk away.”
Kenny Pickett, a quarterback, was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 20th overall choice in the 2021 NFL Draft. But if the
Steelers are serious about going for and taking home the team’s seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy, they ought to emulate the actions of
the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles, two other NFL teams that selected their presumed franchise quarterbacks in the
first round before realizing their errors and moving on.
Let’s examine the example these two franchises set.
Let’s begin with the most current illustration. In order to draft North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance with the third overall pick
in the 2021 NFL Draft, the 49ers forfeited significant draft compensation to the Miami Dolphins prior to the draft.
Examining the transaction that Miami received from the 49ers…
The 49ers then selected quarterback Brock Purdy, who was, at the time, considered a late pick, in the 2022 NFL Draft. He eventually
forced his way into the starting quarterback position after Lance suffered a season-ending injury. Lance quickly became unwelcome in
the team’s plans and was sent to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round selection. The 49ers made an organizational choice
despite their large investment in Lace. “Hey, we should move on. This isn’t the guy.”
That has a lesson for you: even after making such a large investment, you shouldn’t be scared to give up on a first-round pick. A head
coach and general manager cannot put their trust in a quarterback who isn’t the real deal. “Fearful
The Eagles experienced a similar outcome with their quarterback dilemma. When North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz was
the team’s most significant player in 2016, the organization believed they had finally found him. In order to acquire Wentz, the Eagles
made two deals in the NFL Draft rather than just one to move up in the draft.
Let’s review what the Eagles sent in that transaction.
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