Maybe they've written off Kenny because, despite the lip service, they don't think he can hack it. And remember, Kenny was Colbert's pick. Not Omar's. Meaning Omar has nothing invested in Kenny as a first round pick. Moving on from him wouldn't hurt his "ego" or legacy. Tomlin let you know what he thought of Kenny at the end of the season when he went with the "hot hand". And Deuce let you know that he thought Kenny wasn't providing enough "competent QB play" with his little shot across the bow during his end of season presser.
I guess if they felt KP8 was a wasted pick, they could have still went with him as the starter and hoped for a top 10 pick and a chance at a first round QB next year. But, I've been hearing that next year's QB draft is weak.
Just maybe Tomlin was given an ultimatum. Maybe they are going to have him play out his contract, and EARN another one. Maybe by letting him play out his contract, they are giving him a chance to get the most he can somewhere else. We don’t have a clue what is really going on behind the scenes.
From what I am seeing, it looks to me that 24 is being used to evaluate a number of issues with this team. Kahn is now the GM, and NONE of these people are HIS PEOPLE.
1. Is Tomlin the Head Coach that Kahn wants to hitch his wagon to going forward? My thought is that NO he is not, but Rooney is not really one to cut a LONG TERM individual, even though maybe the GM wants to do so. The compromise could be to let Tomlin play out his contract and let Kahn decide for 25 onwards.
2. Is Kenny Pickett the QB going forward? Bringing in Wilson should give Pickett the challenge that he needs to step his game up, if he can. 24 is still a make or break year for Pickett, bringing in Wilson does not change that at all. Pickett this year will get, by all accounts, a good OC. Maybe the change can be positive, and he shows enough to get that 5th year option and holds on to the QB1 position.
3. If Tomlin, for one reason or another is not in Pittsburgh in 2025, is Smith the guy Kahn looks to to take over? If Smith is an option, he has had a year to see what/who needs to be changed going forward.
All of this is conjecture, since I don’t have the slightest idea of what is really going on behind the scenes. These are just a couple of things that I think, that I think. One small change out of Pittsburgh could completely change my opinion.