Reevaluating the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 draft class
Shamarko Thomas S, Syracuse – Round 4, 111th overall
The Steelers knew it was nearing the end of Troy Polamalu’s career and they needed to find a safety to be groomed to take over when Troy was done. They selected a speedy and hard-hitting kid from Syracuse University.
Thomas was your typical mid-round draftee in that he had some skills but there were also areas of concern and room for improvement. He was a shorter defensive back but made up for it with physicality and speed on the field.
He would need to prove himself in coverage at the next level to help earn himself a starting safety role. He had time to do this with the Pittsburgh Steelers while learning from one of the greatest safeties to ever play in Polamalu.
Shamarko played in 14 games and earned two starts his rookie year piling up 29 combined tackles and one tackle for loss. He would combine for just nine total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his next 34 games in Pittsburgh.
He was not re-signed after the 2016 season and has spent the last two seasons in Buffalo and Denver respectively playing in just 18 games and recording just seven total tackles.
The Steelers did not get their safety of the future as Thomas never panned out. The fourth rounder had the talent and high-character the Steelers like in the middle rounds but never grew into something greater.