Every first-round pick in Pittsburgh Steelers history

A few misses to end the 2000s but a strong decade for the draft overall

2005 (Pick 30): Heath Miller (TE), Virginia

One position that needed an upgrade was tight end and the club lucked out when Heath Miller was there for the taking. He was one of the most reliable players that the Steelers franchise has ever seen. His personality and team-friendly attitude only make him more loveable to the fans that cheered for him. Miller leads the franchise records by tight end in most categories.

2006 (Pick 25): Santonio Holmes (WR), Ohio State

Adding an explosive playmaker on offense and special teams is something this club was missing. Santonio Holmes was the exact person to fill that void and would help this club reach another Super Bowl win a couple of years later. Holmes had a good NFL career, but he will always be known for his Super Bowl heroics during his time in Pittsburgh.

2007 (Pick 15): Lawrence Timmons (LB), Florida State

One of the least appreciated players in the recent history of the Steelers is Lawrence Timmons. He came onto the team to take over for a legendary tandem of James Farrior and Larry Foote. Timmons would come in and barely miss a beat from either of those two. He was a consistent performer on defense and made everyone comfortable when he was on the field.

2008 (Pick 23): Rashard Mendenhall (RB), Illinois

This was not the worst pick by the black and gold, but there could have been better people to upgrade at running back. Rashard Mendenhall had a respectable career in Pittsburgh, but his time in the NFL did not last long. He will always be remembered for his criticisms of the Steelers after his career and for fumbling in the Steelers Super Bowl loss to the Packers.

2009 (Pick 32): Evander "Ziggy" Hood (DT), Missouri

We hit a little hiccup here as Ziggy Hood was not the best player to come in and help move onto a new era on the defensive line. He was not the worst pick in history, but he was a step down, especially with the type of talents that the Steelers took in the first round of this decade. Overall, he was a draft bust, but he did have a fairly long career in the NFL as a depth guy.