History suggests Steelers should wait until third round to draft a wide receiver

Hines Ward 1998-2011, Steelers 92nd overall selection

What can you say about Hines Ward that someone has not already said? The Steelers drafted Hines Ward in the 3rd round of 1998’s draft with the 92nd overall selection.

Little did they know he would become the 1st receiver to exceed the production of both Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. He went on to play 14 seasons, played in 217 games, won two Superbowl rings, was a favorite target for Big Ben, and even had a rule change named after him. The Hall of Fame has snubbed him so far despite all of this.

There is no doubt he had great receiving skills. Adding to that, though, next to Jerry Rice, arguably Ward is one of the best-blocking receivers the NFL has ever seen. As a result, due to the punishing hit on the Bengals Keith Rivers, the NFL penalized blindside blocks if the block came from the blocker’s helmet, forearm, or shoulder and lands in the neck area of a defender. Ironically, if you watch the play over the block cam closer to Rivers’ chest and shoulder rather than his neck.

Nonetheless, Ward finished his career as the top Steelers receiver of all time. Antonio Brown, a 6th round selection, could have surpassed him had his career not gone sideways following the 2018 season.

Those are the four best receivers ever taken by the Steelers in the third round. So if the Steelers take a wide receiver in 2022, who could they get?