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5 worst Steelers draft picks of the Kevin Colbert era

By Eric Hassel

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 23: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks for running room while playing the Cincinnati Bengals during a second quarter run at Heinz Field on December 23, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 23: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks for running room while playing the Cincinnati Bengals during a second quarter run at Heinz Field on December 23, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH – JANUARY 11: Limas Sweed #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the San Diego Chargers during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 11, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH – JANUARY 11: Limas Sweed #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the San Diego Chargers during their AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 11, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

The Steelers ‘missed’ on a Wide Receiver and on an Offensive Lineman

Continuing our discussion about the five worst draft picks under Colbert, coming in at the number four spot is Limas Sweed, a second-round pick in the 2008 draft.  Sweed lasted two seasons with the Steelers, started no games, played in a total of twenty games, caught 7 passes for 69 yards with zero TDs.  That is downright awful.

As I have stated many times before, the draft is essentially a ‘roll of the dice’ in terms of whether or not a player, who may have been productive in college, will be productive in the NFL.  We got essentially nothing from a second-round pick.

My assessment of Sweed may be harsh, but if the Steelers thought that Sweed was the best player available in the second round, DeSean Jackson was drafted four spots ahead of Sweed.  If we really thought we needed a receiver, why not trade up to get Jackson?  Maybe we tried and were not successful, but, man oh man, what a bad pick.

Coming in at the number three spot is Mike Adams, drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft. Adams played three seasons for the Steelers, making twenty starts.  You may be thinking that for an ‘O’-lineman drafted in the second round to make twenty starts is pretty good.

I would agree; however, Adams was not the best player available in the second round.  Here are some of the notable players who were drafted in the second round after Adams:  Lavonte David and Kelechi Osemele.  There were other notable players drafted in later rounds, but the point is this:  If we are to assume that the Steelers draft the best player available, Adams was not that.

I realize Osemele has played mostly guard over his career, but you can’t tell me that either David or Osemele would not have been better picks than Adams. What makes the Adams pick even worse is the fact that Kelvin Beachum, a seventh-round pick in the same draft as Adams, who was drafted as a right tackle, ended up starting 34 games at left tackle.

Let’s continue our discussion.

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