The Kenny Pickett trade afforded the 2022 first-round pick a fresh start . But after two preseason games, Pickett is wavering as the best option as a backup quarterback for Jalen Hurts . Pickett’s preseason play is consistent.
He’s yet to prove he can capitalize on downfield opportunities. Against the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason opener , Pickett underthrew John Ross on a vertical route. Against the New England Patriots on Thursday night, Pickett overthrew Ross after the receiver blew past Christian Gonzalez on Philadelphia ’s second offensive play of the exhibition.
Advertisement Pickett is more proficient on shorter throws. Against the Ravens , he struck tight end Grant Calcaterra for a 7-yard gain on a run-pass option play. Against the Patriots, Pickett hit Ross on a 9-yard slant that converted a third-and-5 situation on the Eagles’ second offensive drive.
Pickett flipped a throw to Kenneth Gainwell on the next play that went for 11 yards. But when Pickett once again sought to sling it deep on third-and-5, he couldn’t connect with Gainwell along the left sideline. This isn’t anything a thorough scouting report on Pickett wouldn’t have portended.
In two seasons, Pickett owns 0.18 Expected Points Added per dropback on pass attempts beyond the sticks, according to TruMedia, and 23.7 percent of those attempts were off target.
(Hurts owns 0.49 EPA per dropback on such attempts in that same span, 17.5 percent were off target.
) Pickett, it should be noted, hasn.