Every edge rusher drafted before T.J. Watt in the 2017 NFL Draft

When the Pittsburgh Steelers landed T.J. Watt with the 30th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, some draft experts thought it was a reach. At the time, Watt was known primarily as 'J.J.'s little brother', and some believed his strong family ties led to him being selected in the first round.

But these thoughts proved to be a complete misevaluation of the talent the Steelers were getting. Very early in his NFL career, Watt flashed his strength, athletic traits, and an impressive feel for the game. By his second season, he was a Pro Bowl player... and that was only the beginning.

In his first seven seasons, Watt led the NFL in sacks three times while tying Michael Strahan's all-time single-season sack record and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors following his 2021 campaign. If he retired today, he likely has enough statistical production and personal accolades to reach the Hall of Fame.

Remarkably, seven teams selected edge rushers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft while Watt was still on the board. At least six of those teams should be kicking themselves every day for passing on the future Hall of Famer.

Every EDGE picked before Steelers selected T.J. Watt in the 2017 NFL Draft

1. Myles Garrett

Draft Position: 1st overall
Drafted by: Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns certainly didn't bust on Myles Garrett. The perennial All-Pro earned the Defensive Player of the Year award following an impressive 2023 season. Garrett's statistical production doesn't quite match what T.J. Watt has done in the same amount of time in the league, but he's a generational pass rusher with elite tools and the ability to harass the quarterback.

In hindsight, Cleveland should have run to the podium to turn their card in for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but getting one of the best defensive players in the league is a solid consolation prize.

2. Solomon Thomas

Draft Position: 3rd overall
Drafted by: San Francisco 49ers

Solomon Thomas resembled more of a true base 4-3 defensive end when he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, the Stanford product would eventually cut weight and play as an edge rusher at 6'2'' and 256 pounds after entering the league at 273 pounds.

Regardless of how you want to label him, this selection was a disaster compared to how things could have worked out with T.J. Watt. Thomas earned just six sacks in four seasons with the 49ers before playing for the Jets and Raiders. San Franciso selected Nick Bosa two years later.

3. Haason Reddick

Draft Position: 13th overall
Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals

Haason Reddick has been an excellent player in recent years, but the Arizona Cardinals didn't get their value's worth out of this pick. This is mostly because they had him playing off-ball linebacker instead of getting after the quarterback.

When they finally made him an edge rusher, Reddick went off for 12.5 sacks in year four. Since then, the pass rush specialist has played with the Panthers, Eagles, and now Jets. Reddick has been excellent at getting after the quarterback, but he's no T.J. Watt.

4. Derek Barnett

Draft Position: 14th overall
Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles

Here's a selection the Eagles would love to have back. Derek Barnett showed promise with a five-sack season as a rookie despite starting zero games. Unfortunately, things never really progressed from there. In his first seven years, Barnett recorded just 24 sacks. Watt nearly did this in one season in 2021.

The Eagles have come extremely close to winning the Super Bowl in recent years, and Watt's presence could have been enough to put them over the top. Instead, Philadelphia selected Barnett with the 14th overall pick in 2017. He would go on to start just 45 games for the Eagles before being released and signing with the Texans halfway through the 2023 season.

5. Charles Harris

Draft Position: 22nd overall
Drafted by: Miami Dolphins

Every football fan on earth had a right to question what the Miami Dolphins were doing in 2017 when they selected Charles Harris over T.J. Watt. At 6'3'' with short arms and poor athletic traits, Harris possessed a size and athletic profile similar to that of former Steelers bust, Jarvis Jones.

Harris played about as well for the Dolphins as I anticipated. He earned three-and-a-half sacks in three seasons before the team decided to part ways with their first-round pick. Miami's front office should have been fired on the spot.

6. Takkarist McKinley

Draft Position: 26th overall
Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons

Who can blame the Falcons for falling in love with a pass rusher with long arms and 4.59 speed? Unfortunately, Takk McKinley far more resembled Bud Dupree in play style than T.J. Watt.

After recording 13 sacks in his first two seasons in Atlanta, McKinley fell off the map. He earned just seven sacks and 11 tackles for a loss on three different teams from 2019 to 2022 before failing to find a home in the NFL in 2023.

7. Taco Charlton

Draft Position: 28th overall
Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys

Knowing how close they were to securing a perennial All-Pro pass rusher like T.J. Watt, the Dallas Cowboys should still be upset with themselves years later for taking Taco Charlton with Watt on the board. The 28th overall pick in 2017 was a complete non-factor in the NFL.

Charlton recorded just four sacks and eight tackles for a loss with the Cowboys before Dallas' front office cut their losses after two seasons. Following time in Dallas, Miami, and Kansas City, Charlton eventually made his way to Pittsburgh where he operated as a reserve pass rusher -- recording a mere half sack and zero tackles for a loss in 11 games.