1.18: Maurkice Pouncey, OC, Florida
Maurkice Pouncey came out of the Florida Gators program with high marks by most scouts. Many thought he would go earlier in the first round, but he dropped to pick 18. The Steelers selected him and were very pleased with their pick. They got an athletic center that would anchor their offensive line for years.
This player would go and get injured during his rookie season and that would cause him to miss out on playing in a Super Bowl. He did come back the following season and secure his starting spot for about a decade of winning football. The black and gold were always competitive during his time playing for the Steel City.
This pick was the beginning of a trend that saw highly invested draft picks going towards the offensive line. The defense was starting to get older and the offense started to become the strength of the team over time. Getting younger and investing in an offensive line to protect Ben Roethlisberger was a top priority.
Pouncey became a leader for this offensive line and helped keep stability. He was a constant force on the football field and got recognized for his individual efforts. His game did start to slip during his final two seasons in the league, but he was a great player for Pittsburgh.