5 greatest undrafted free agents in Pittsburgh Steelers history

Ramon Foster

Going back to 1931, only 174 undrafted free agents have played at least 160 or more games. As far as undrafted Steelers players, only four played more games than Ramon Foster, and three players fall ahead of him on this list.

Foster had played for Tennessee, and unlike other college players, several analysts had projected he might go off the draft board in the 6th or 7th round of the 2009 draft, but it never happened. However, the Steelers did sign him immediately following the draft.

Although Foster competed for the starting guard position, he remained a backup through his first three seasons despite having the opportunity to fill in for injuries at times. Then in 2012, he won the starting position over then-rookie David Decastro. The following season, in 2013, the Steelers moved him to left guard following Willie Colon’s departure from the Steelers.

It was in 2013 that Foster received the first of his contract extensions. They resigned him for three seasons and for a second time in 2019. Following the expiration of his 2nd contract extension, Foster announced his retirement.

Even though the Steelers did not win a championship with Foster, he played on the same offensive line with David Decastro, Maurkice Pouncy, and Alejandro Villanueva, arguably one of the best offensive lines in the NFL between 2010-2020.

Keith Willis

Of anyone on the list, he is probably the most unheralded. However, the ambiguity stems from the fact that he was a great player that happened to play in the worst possible decade for the Steelers.

This fact is particularly ironic for a team that prides itself in producing defensive players that love to sack the quarterback. After finishing at Northeastern, NFL teams bypassed him in the draft, but the Steelers decided to take a chance and sign him.

His first season in the NFL did not amount to much, and he did not even start more than six games in his first three seasons; however, that did not last much longer, as between 1983 and 1984, he had 19 sacks as a non-starter.

Willis then became a full-time starter in 1985 and played for the Steelers through 1991. While he did play two more seasons with Buffalo and Washington, he did not have any sacks and finished his career as the Steelers all-time sack leader with 59. He had the designation only because sacks were not an official stat until his first season. If you count sacks from the 70s, Willis is still 8th all-time in sacks in Steelers history and falls second in team history for sacks by an undrafted free agent.

Willis really deserves a lot more credit for what he brought to the Steelers as an undrafted player.