No matter how you view the Pittsburgh Steelers' recent draft history, you cannot deny that they have presented a disastrous trend. They used to be one of the most well-respected franchises that knew how to develop prospects, especially those they picked in the first round. The past ten selections in the first round by the franchise show that those days of slam-dunk picks are long gone.
Some players remain with the Steelers, but most from before Omar Khan took over the general manager role are long gone.
Most former first-round picks by Pittsburgh over the past ten selections have been failures. Either they flunked out of the organization or now play on another team. Recent draft history shows that this team has to turn things around.
Pittsburgh Steelers' previous ten first-round draft pick updates show a troubling trend
2026 - Max Iheanachor: Pittsburgh Steelers
They just took Max Iheanachor this past spring, and it appears they might've found a solid starting right tackle for the future. His raw skill set is intriguing, and he should develop into a dependable player in the trenches. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers decide to play their rookie offensive tackle in Week 1 of the regular season.
He might be their best option even though he needs to develop.
2025 - Derrick Harmon: Pittsburgh Steelers
After a rookie season riddled with injuries and inconsistencies, Derrick Harmon has a lot to prove. His ability to be an effective run stuffer remained on full display during his rookie campaign. Harmon must grow his game when it comes to his pass-rush abilities. The Steelers fully believe this player can take another step forward. He will hopefully evolve into the next great defensive lineman for the club.
2024 - Troy Fautanu: Pittsburgh Steelers
With Max Iheanachor in the fold, the Pittsburgh Steelers shoved Troy Fautanu to left tackle. It will be interesting to witness how that transition goes for the promising player. This will be a tough task for him to pull off and hopefully excel at. Fautanu has been a lineman many assumed would turn into a solid starter, but his early returns as the left tackle during the summer haven't been up to par.
2023 - Broderick Jones: Dallas Cowboys
You can name a bunch of reasons why Broderick Jones failed with the Steelers. At the end of the day, it was a result of the player lacking size and the team failing to develop him properly. This was the first major swing and miss for Omar Khan, despite his overwhelming praise as a draft expert. Jones just got traded to the Cowboys, and it seems like his career finally has a second chance to rebound.
2022 - Kenny Pickett: Carolina Panthers
Everyone wished the Kenny Pickett experience in Pittsburgh had worked out, but it blew up in their faces.
In reality, they over-drafted the quarterback out of desperation, and potentially the Dan Marino effect sat in the franchise's mind. The Steelers and Pickett failed as a duo, and they cut bait quickly by trading him. He now sits with the Panthers, which is his fourth team in three years.
2021 - Najee Harris: New York Giants
No, Najee Harris wasn't the greatest first-round pick in Steelers history, but he was a safe one. He was never going to be a franchise-altering runner. In reality, he became a reliable piece on a weak offense for the club. Harris eventually skipped out of town as a free agent and suffered a season-ending injury with the Chargers. He is now on the Giants, where he should have a solid role on their offense.
2019 - Devin Bush: Chicago Bears
Looking back on past first rounders, and Devin Bush was their biggest gamble that failed.
They traded up for the short-statured player, and his career in Pittsburgh quickly fizzled out after his rookie contract expired. He shocked many by rebounding with the Cleveland Browns, which gave him another shot at a long NFL career. Bush just signed a healthy new deal with the Chicago Bears.
2018 - Terrell Edmunds: Free Agent
It was a surprise when the Steelers took Terrell Edmunds in the top round back in 2018. That choice was an overdraft, which led to Edmunds eventually losing his job with the group. He would bounce around after leaving the team that drafted him. Edmunds remains a free agent with no end in sight as retirement creeps closer. He played for the Raiders last year, but things aren't looking good for him.
2017 - T.J. Watt: Pittsburgh Steelers
When you review recent first-round picks in franchise history that actually worked out long-term, T.J. Watt is one of the few. He has developed into a franchise icon who holds many different records. He has yet to make a playoff push with the team, which could become a stain on his legacy if he cannot accomplish that feat. Watt is still with the Steelers, but age might be starting to catch up to him.
2016 - Artie Burns: Free Agent
It seemed like a panic pick at the time, and with how Artie Burns' career turned out, the Steelers made the wrong choice. Burns was over-drafted and never became a top cornerback for the team. After leaving Pittsburgh, he was able to hang onto NFL roster spots for a handful of years but never lived up to his first-round billing. He is sitting out there as a free agent, but no one is eager to sign Burns.
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