Kenny Pickett-Dan Marino parallels are too strong for Steelers to ignore

The Pittsburgh Steelers famously passed up on drafting Dan Marino. Will they do the same with Kenny Pickett? 

As the Pittsburgh Steelers try to figure out who they’ll replace Ben Roethlisberger with, they may not need to travel very far to find their next quarterback. Kenny Pickett plays for the Pitt Panthers and he, like another famed Pitt quarterback, would be a great addition to the Steelers roster.

All Pittsburgh needs to do is avoid making the same sort of mistake they once did.

Back in 1983, the Steelers had the opportunity to draft Dan Marino back but passed up on the talented Panthers quarterback. Marino then went on to have a legendary career with the Miami Dolphins. Instead of playing for his hometown team, Marino was in Miami from 1983 through 1999. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame just four years later.

Marino’s accomplishments are well known. He went to the Pro Bowl nine times, is generally considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time, and was the NFL passing leader in five different seasons.

The Steelers let that sort of talent go. Will they consider drafting a guy who is currently breaking records that Marino set?

Pittsburgh Steelers: Will the Steelers draft Kenny Pickett?

There’s absolutely no guarantee that Pickett will have anywhere near the career that Marino had. Quarterbacks of that caliber are few and far between, but the parallels here can’t be ignored by the Steelers.

Pickett has been drawing some Heisman buzz for how he’s performed at Pitt. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback has helped elevate the Panthers this year, and his career will be one of the best the Panthers have ever seen.

There’s a very good chance that he’ll be available when the Steelers have their pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. They should at least consider Pickett as the guy who could lead their franchise forward.

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