The Steelers also drafted offensive tackle Broderick Jones 14th overall in 2023 to help fortify a below-average offensive line. He will have an entire offseason to gel with Najee Harris (2021 first-round pick), Diontae Johnson (2019 third-round pick), George Pickens (2022 second-round pick) and Pat Freiermuth (2021 second-round pick). Pickett has the same coaching staff as last year, and a nice core of young talent around him. The Steelers also have a great environment for a developing quarterback. He also led thrilling victories against the Raiders and Ravens, becoming the first rookie in NFL history to throw game-winning touchdown passes in the final minute in back-to-back games. He completed 43 percent of his passes thrown 15-plus yards downfield in the final eight games compared with 27 percent prior to that. He only turned it over once in his final eight games after turning it over nine times in his first five games. Pickett didn't put up gaudy numbers and was definitely protected by a run-heavy offense and dominant defense, but there were positive signs of growth, too. He ranked 31st in EPA per play among qualified QBs in the first nine weeks of last season, but ranked eighth in the final nine weeks of the season as the Steelers made a playoff push. The trends are nice, but the main reason I expect a leap from Pickett is he has already proven he could play at the level of a top 15 quarterback for an extended period of time. He was the only QB drafted in the first round last year, and the only one with much reps in 2022, with the exception of Brock Purdy, and it's hard to imagine Purdy playing any better than he did a year ago (especially coming off his elbow injury). That group also averaged nearly 10 starts as rookies, so Pickett's pedigree (2022 20th overall pick) and experience (12 starts in 2022) matter. The last 10 Year 2 leaps were all by former first-round picks. Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder likely won't be breaking any records in 2023, but they are among the Year 2 breakout candidates this year. Marino shattered the record for touchdown passes in a season (48) and Warner was the last QB to win MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season until Patrick Mahomes followed him in 2022. The sophomore MVP seasons by Dan Marino (1984) and Kurt Warner (1999) stand out among the best Year 2 leaps ever.
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