Steelers Helmet Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

While Kenny Pickett has been widely expected to be the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers next season, it sounds like the team has not ruled out the possibility of acquiring a new starting quarterback by way of a trade.

During a recent interview with Bob Pompeani of KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II sent a particularly brutal message to Kenny Pickett as he did not rule out the prospect of acquiring a veteran quarterback to replace Pickett this offseason.

“Well, you know, as we sit here early February, we’re not closing the door on anything,” Rooney said according to Pro Football Talk. “We have a lot of evaluations to go through and we’ll go through all the options and do what we need to do to be better this coming season.”

Pickett was the team’s starting quarterback to begin the season, but after he suffered an injury midway through the year, he was replaced by Mason Rudolph in the starting lineup, who retained the starting role even once Pickett was cleared to return.

The Steelers have maintained that there will be a competition for the starting quarterback role next season, but given the current quarterbacks expected to be on the roster, Pickett was widely expected to win any competition. But that could obviously change if the team adds a veteran quarterback.

[Pro Football Talk]