New Steelers WR has encouraging evaluation of QB Kenny Pickett

Kenny Pickett is heading into his second NFL season and first as the official starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No pressure, right? He only has the hopes and dreams of one of the most storied franchises in professional sports on his shoulders.

If Pickett is feeling the pressure, though, he's not showing it -- at least so far at OTAs. In fact, new Steelers wide receiver Allen Robinson II believes Pickett has the qualities of a veteran quarterback.

"For a second-year quarterback he is definitely wise beyond his years," Robinson said, per the team website. "How he leads the charge. His work ethic day in and day out. Very focused. He is definitely beyond his years.

"I was impressed when I got here. Watching somebody from the outside looking in, you definitely see the talent. Once you actually get in the facility and are able to be around Kenny, you see why he is successful."

That's a pretty nice endorsement from a wide receiver who has had way more than a cup of coffee in the league. Robinson is heading into his 10th NFL season, so he's played with plenty of quarterbacks. 

The former Rams wideout went so far as to say that he believes Pickett has a knack for winning dating back to his time in college with Pitt. He also believes Pickett has the stuff of a natural leader.

"Leaders are born," said Robinson. "It doesn't take a lot of time for a guy who is a natural leader. I think anybody here can tell that from Kenny. I have been here a little over a month and you can already tell his leadership, how he leads the charge day in and day out. For a second-year guy, that isn't easy. For a guy to be able to take a bull by the horns like that, it's pretty impressive."

Pickett was drafted by the Steelers with the 20th pick last April. Playing as a rookie last season, he threw for 2,404 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions in 13 games.