15 all-time greatest draft picks in Pittsburgh Steelers history

13. OG Alan Faneca

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some excellent offensive lineman over the years, but Alan Faneca was easily the best they’ve had in my lifetime. Listed at 6’5” and 316 pounds, Faneca was a sound pass protector and a road-grader in the running game. He even had the all-important block in Super Bowl XL that allowed Willie Parker to spring off the longest run in Super Bowl history.

Expectations were relatively high for Faneca coming out of LSU back in the 1998 NFL Draft, as the former first-round pick was considered a blue-chip prospect. While he was a pretty solid player early in his career, Faneca was already considered one of the NFL’s best interior offensive lineman by year four.

In 2001, Faneca was named to the Pro Bowl and earned the first of his six First-Team All-Pro selections. From 2001 to 2007, Faneca was arguably the best interior offensive lineman in the NFL. In 2021, Faneca was finally (and deservingly) inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

For my money, Faneca should be considered one of the top two offensive linemen in Steelers history. The former 26th overall pick would have gone much higher in a re-draft.