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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, PA – OCTOBER 07: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball against Artie Burns #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half during the game at Heinz Field on October 7, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 07: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball against Artie Burns #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half during the game at Heinz Field on October 7, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

The Steelers wasted a first-round pick on a cornerback

With the 25th pick ‘on’ the first round of the 2016 NFL draft, the Steelers selected Artie Burns, a cornerback out of Miami.  Neither my son nor I liked the pick and, now, it seems we were right to not like the pick.

I do not think it’s unfair to say that we wasted our first pick on Burns.  If you look at how that drafted unfolded, William Jackson, the corner out of Houston, was drafted by the Bengals with the pick before we drafted Burns.  I suspect, albeit I do not know for certain, that the Steelers wanted to draft Jackson.

After missing out on Jackson, the Steelers decided to pick Burns.  OK, fine.  If we really needed a cornerback, how about Xavien Howard, who drafted early in the second round? Howard has already made a Pro Bowl; Burns has not and may not even be a Steeler when the 2020 season begins.

Here are some players who were drafted after Burns:  Kenny Clark, Hunter Henry, Chris Jones, and Michael Thomas, the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year.  Again, I realize you could argue that other teams passed on the above-mentioned players and that you can’t look at the players who were drafted by other teams, but we are not other teams.

Look, I hope Burns can somehow put it together so that he can once again become a contributor to the success of the team, but I honestly don’t see that coming to fruition.

Let’s wrap up this discussion by looking at the worst draft pick of the Colbert era.

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