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Ranking each of Steelers’ 1st round picks over the past decade

By Tommy Jaggi

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 28: Jarvis Jones #95 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines during a game against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field on August 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 28: Jarvis Jones #95 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines during a game against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field on August 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 07: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons runs upfield after a catch as Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers defends in the first quarter during the game at Heinz Field on October 7, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 07: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons runs upfield after a catch as Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers defends in the first quarter during the game at Heinz Field on October 7, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

7. Terrell Edmunds (2018)

This pick wasn’t easy to assess, because Terrell Edmunds has just one season under his belt. Despite my 2nd-3rd round grade on the safety coming out of Virginia Tech, Edmunds finished the year on a solid note, and was one of Pro Football Focus’s most improved Steelers in the second half of the season.

Edmunds still has a long way to go to prove that he was worthy of a first round selection, and will no doubt be asked to make more plays in the secondary. However, he proved to be a solid asset as a 21-year old player towards the end of his rookie season, and it stands to reason that he should be even better in 2019.

6. Devin Bush (2019)

This is where it starts getting dicey. I absolutely loved Devin Bush coming out of Michigan this year. I had a legitimate first round grade on the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and he was my 7th overall player on my big board.

At the same time, it’s hard to slot him above the other names higher than him on this list – each with a Pro Bowl designation. I may  be slotting Devin Bush higher than this in the future, but we will err on the side of caution for now.

5. Ryan Shazier (2015)

I feel so bad for Ryan Shazier, but with his career possibly coming to an end, it’s hard to put him higher than the other players on this list. I firmly believe his impact was one of the greatest out of all NFL linebackers in the game prior to his spinal cord injury, but his Pro Bowl reign was short-lived.

Still, Shazier proved to be an excellent selection for the Steelers and saw back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2016 and 2017. His combination of athleticism and instincts was incredibly rare, and he had a chance to be the best player the Steelers have drafted in a decade had he stayed healthy.

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