There have been many outstanding draft picks in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but here are their fifteen greatest draft-day decisions of all time.
When you think about the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first thing that comes to mind might be the successful seasons this team has had, the six Lombardi Trophies they have earned, or the three brilliant head coaches spanning over 50 years who have led the charge.
However, what is a team without its players? While there have been many franchises that have been more successful in finding All-Pro players in free agency, Pittsburgh has been one of the best drafting teams in NFL history.
The Steelers have a lengthy list of fantastic draft choices throughout the years. Some of these NFL Draft selections were highly touted prospects coming out of college, while others were late-round steals. Factoring in the value of their draft position and success they’ve found in their careers, here are the fifteen all-time greatest draft picks in Pittsburgh Steelers history:
15. WR Hines Ward
Hines Ward wasn’t exactly the complete package at the wide receiver position. He had just average size and certainly wasn’t going to wow anyone with his speed or burst after the catch. However, Ward had a terrific feel for the game and was one of the toughest players to ever play the position.
Ward was a former third-round draft choice by the Steelers back in 1998. In his first season, Ward didn’t log a single start. In fact, his career really didn’t heat up until his fourth season in 2001 when he narrowly cracked 1,000 yards for the first time.
From there, Ward earned four straight Pro Bowls and became one of the most consistent receiving options in the NFL over this span. Ward might have averaged just 12.1 yards per reception throughout his 14-year career, but he did the dirty work over the middle of the field as well as anyone.