Every first-round pick in Pittsburgh Steelers history

A couple of role players and a Hall of Famer round out the 90s for Pittsburgh

1995 (Pick 27): Mark Bruener (TE), Washington

Not the worst pick here, especially as it came at the tail end of the first round of the draft. The Steelers needed a tight end, but Mark Bruener would not offer much as a receiving threat to their offense. He did have a respectable career that last over 14 seasons, but he would not be much more than a solid veteran backup option.

1996 (Pick 29): Jamain Stephens (OT), North Carolina A&T

Poor work ethic is something that will always be synonymous with Jamain Stephens and the Steelers. He was a draft bust that never worked to get to the potential that the Steelers saw in him when he was taken. Stephens would start for Pittsburgh in 1998 but would be cut soon after. Stephens spent most of his short time in the NFL as a backup.

1997 (Pick 24): Chad Scott (DB), Maryland

A very reliable selection here by the Steelers as Chad Scott was a good cornerback for them. He was able to have two seasons that totaled five interceptions a piece. Scott was able to accumulate 19 interceptions during his seven seasons with Pittsburgh. He would suffer a couple of devastating injuries throughout his career that ultimately cut it short.

1998 (Pick 26): Alan Faneca (OG), LSU

It had been a while since the black and gold had a slam dunk pick in the first round. They get that here with the addition of Alan Faneca out of LSU. He would be one of the best offensive linemen, specifically guard, that the franchise has ever had. Faneca would win a Super Bowl and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

1999 (Pick 13): Troy Edwards (WR), Louisiana Tech

A lot of players need to be at the right place at the right time for their professional careers to work out. Troy Edwards is seen mostly as a bust, but he did enjoy a promising rookie year. Investing into receivers was a popular movement by Pittsburgh around this time and names like Plexico Burress and Hines Ward would pass him on the depth chart.