Steelers send QB Pickett to Eagles
The brief and tumultuous Kenny Pickett era in Pittsburgh is over.
The Steelers are trading the quarterback to the Philadelphia Eagles, multiple sources told The Associated Press. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not official.
Pittsburgh will receive a third-round pick in this year’s NFL draft and two seventh-round choices in the 2025 draft in exchange for Pickett and Pittsburgh’s fourth-round pick this year.
The trade comes just hours after the Steelers signed nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson to a one-year deal to compete with Pickett for the starting job, though all signs appeared to be pointing to Wilson having the edge when the team reported for training camp at Saint Vincent College in July.
Wilson declined to say he expected to be the starter when asked during his introductory press conference on Friday, and added he and Pickett had connected shortly after Wilson agreed to terms with the team, saying they were both focused on making the Steelers better.
Instead, Wilson now finds himself as the only quarterback on the roster after the club cut Mitch Trubisky and thirdstringer Mason Rudolph — who guided the Steelers to the playoffs after Pickett underwent ankle surgery in early December — signed with Tennessee.
Pickett, a first-round pick out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2022, went 14-10 as a starter, but struggled to stay healthy and be a difference-maker for an offense that languished.
Rams sign Garoppolo:
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has signed with the Los Angeles Rams as the backup to Matthew Stafford. Safety Kamren Curl also agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Rams on Friday.
Garoppolo was released Wednesday by the Las Vegas Raiders after one disappointing season. He is best known to Rams fans from his years with the archrival 49ers from 201722, during which he went 8-0 as a starter against Los Angeles in the regular season.
Rams coach Sean McVay has spoken admiringly of the 32-year-old Garoppolo for years, and now the veteran passer will be the primary backup to Stafford.
Cowboys release LB, WR:
The Dallas Cowboys released linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and receiver Michael Gallup on Friday, cutting ties with two of their top three picks from the 2018 draft.
Vander Esch was released with a failed physical designation after missing 12 games with a neck injury in 2023.
The Cowboys signed Vander Esch’s replacement Friday in linebacker Eric Kendricks, who initially chose San Francisco in free agency before changing his mind. The 32-year-old will be reunited with new Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who was Kendricks’ head coach in Minnesota for his first seven NFL seasons.
The move on Gallup was a cost-cutter for Dallas, just two years into the five-year contract he signed not long after tearing an ACL.
Briefly
The 49ers found their help at linebacker, agreeing to a one-year deal with free agent De’Vondre Campbell.
The Carolina Panthers added free-agent safety Jordan Fuller to their new-look secondary.
The New York Jets agreed to terms on a contract to re-sign defensive tackle Solomon Thomas on Friday, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
Free-agent cornerback Bryce Hall and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.
The Chicago Bears have signed wide receiver Dante Pettis to a one-year contract.