Tomlin 'excited' to see Pickett's growth in 2nd season

There's a lot of optimism in Pittsburgh over the development of Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Head coach Mike Tomlin detailed why he's looking forward to seeing Pickett in his second season as a pro.

"I'm excited about Kenny individually in terms of the growth that he's capable of making ... and what he's willing to do to realize that," Tomlin said Sunday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I think I'm probably more excited about that because I've just been around him intimately now for 12 months."

The 2022 first-round pick finished his rookie season as the Steelers' starting quarterback and showed promise down the stretch. Pickett won five of his final six starts, with his only defeat coming in a Week 14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that saw him play only eight snaps due to a concussion. He also notched memorable fourth-quarter comebacks in wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Ravens in Weeks 16 and 17.

The Steelers have spent the offseason prioritizing the offensive line with the signings of Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig. Pickett landed in the concussion protocol twice last season and was sacked 27 times across 13 games.

Pickett finished his rookie campaign with a winning record (7-5) and seven touchdowns to nine interceptions. He also added another three scores with his legs.