14-10: The Shocking Record a Former GM Called 'Trending Up' For a QB Who Got Traded TWICE

Alright, 12s, you gotta hear this. Former Steelers G.M. Kevin Colbert just went on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh this week, and he actually defended the decision to draft Kenny Pickett. Like, seriously defended it. After only two seasons, the Steelers punted on Pickett, sending him packing. But Colbert, man, he's out here saying Pickett was "trending in the right direction." What are we even talking about here? This dude played two seasons, got shipped to Philly, then to Vegas, and now he's behind Bryce Young on the Panthers' depth chart. "Trending in the right direction"? Give me a break!

The "Trending Up" Myth

Colbert's whole argument for Pickett? He straight up said, "We projected Kenny to be a start-and-win NFL quarterback, and quite honestly, he lived up to that in his first two seasons with us." He even dropped numbers, claiming Pickett was "14-10 and trending in the right direction." Look, 14-10 is fine, but it's not exactly setting the league on fire, is it? And for a guy who was supposed to be a franchise savior after Ben Roethlisberger, getting traded after just two seasons doesn't exactly scream "success story." Colbert retired before that trade even went down, so he's not on the hook for the actual decision to ship Pickett out. But to defend it now? It's wild. Pickett won a Super Bowl ring in Philadelphia during the 2024 season, which is pretty sweet for him, but let's be real, that's not exactly because he was lighting it up

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as a starter, right? Then he got bounced to the Browns, then the Raiders in 2025. It feels like a long fall for a guy who was supposedly "trending up."

History Repeats: Steelers and Pitt QBs

This isn't even the first time the Steelers have had a major decision with a Pitt quarterback. Back before Terry Bradshaw's last year, they had a shot at Dan Marino with the 21st overall pick in the draft. They passed on that one. Fast forward to the months after Ben Roethlisberger's career ended, and what do they do? They "pounced" on another Pitt product, Kenny Pickett, with the 20th overall pick. Think about that for a second. They passed on Marino, who went on to become an all-time legend, and then they *pounced* on Pickett. And look how that turned out. Marino never won a Super Bowl ring, but he's a Hall of Famer. Pickett got a ring as a backup and is now battling for a spot. It just shows how tricky these draft decisions are, especially at quarterback. This whole discussion just highlights the pressure these GMs are under and how fast things can change in the NFL. One minute you're a first-round pick, the next you're fighting for a spot on a third team. For us Seahawks fans, it's a good reminder that every decision, every projection, has massive consequences. We're always looking for that next game-changer, but sometimes, even the "trending in the right direction" guys don't pan out. Here's to hoping our own front office keeps making moves that actually get us truly "trending up" in the standings. What's next? More football drama, probably!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.