Why Steelers should avoid taking a WR in first round of NFL Draft

Steelers # 1  (17th overall) 1994, Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson was not a bade receiver; he just never developed into what the Steelers hoped. His first two seasons never developed into anything spectacular, although he managed to crack 1000 yards receiving in 1996 in what proved to be his best year with the Steelers.

Things might have worked out differently; however, the Steelers, while having rebuilt the team after a ten-year struggle, still only had a mediocre quarterback in Niel O’Donnell. The second issue is that they wanted to get O’Donnell some weapons to make him more effective, so they took Johnson.

In hindsight, 1994 did not have a great wide receiver class. The better option would have been taking Johnnie Morton, who arguably was the best receiver taken in the first round in 1994 by Detroit. Derrick Alexander followed him at the 29th selection, who went to Cleveland. However, if the Steelers had known in 1994 what they know in 2022, they would have selected future Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce at 17th. As we know, Bruce did not go off the board until the 33rd pick to the Rams.

After leaving the Steelers, he moved on to Philadelphia, and his career continued to flounder, only having one decent season in 2000.