Tons of history have littered the streets of Pittsburgh and their football team since their inception. They are 90 years old and have been through a lot of ups and downs throughout their existence. The Steelers initially started off their franchise as the Pirates before taking on the steel city name that they still use.
Not every first-round pick works out or the trades that you include them in. The black and gold started off with little success in the professional ranks, but that changed for the better once the 70s hit, and competing for championships became a norm. There were a lot of great picks in the NFL draft by the Steelers in their 90 years of existence, but there were a lot of poor choices too.
Steelers first round picks from 1936-1940 offer shaky outcomes
1936 (Pick 3): William Shakespeare (RB), Notre Dame
No this is not the famed writer that he shares his name with. After a great career at Notre Dame, William Shakespeare was selected third overall by the then Pittsburgh Pirates. The NFL was not a high paying league and that led to Shakespeare deciding to choose another professional career rather than joining the club.
1937 (Pick 5): Mike Basrak (RB/OC), Duquesne
Some might consider Mike Basrak a local product as he graduated from Duquesne after they defeated Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl. He did not do anything of much note during his time with Pittsburgh. Basrak decided to retire from the game of football just two seasons into his professional career to focus on other interests.
1938 (Pick 4): Byron White (RB), Colorado
The NFL continued to struggle to keep talent in their league, but Byron White was a star that did not stick around. The Steelers took him in the first round, and he only stuck around a year. He did make an impressive impact in that lone year before he would become one of the highest paid NFL players at the time when he returned to the game briefly with the Detroit Lions. He would later become a Supreme Court Justice.
1939: No pick, traded the second overall selection to the Chicago Bears. Received Ed Manske. Traded away 1939 first round pick.
This is considered one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history, and the Steelers were on the bad end. Ed Manske was a good player, but he would only be in Pittsburgh for one season before returning to Chicago. That first round pick that the Steelers gave up for Manske turned out to be Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman.
1940 (Pick 3): Kay Eakin (RB), Arkansas
Another pick that never played a down for Pittsburgh throughout his career. He would wind up playing only a couple of years of professional football, which included two with the New York Giants. The NFL is not the dominant business model that it is now and had leagues that competed with them. Kay Eakin even played for the Miami Seahawks of the All-American Football Conference for a year.
World War II shook the world of the NFL and slowed down growth
1941: No pick, traded away the third overall pick to the Chicago Bears. Received Billy Patterson. Traded away 1941 frst round pick.
The hope for the Steelers here was that they could get a player that could be their bright future. That logic was nice, but the Steelers made another massive blunder here by acquiring Billy Patterson. He had an abysmal season during his lone year with Pittsburgh before he was out of the league.
1942 (Pick 1): Bill Dudley (RB), Virginia
The Steelers finally got one right here as they picked Bill Dudley first overall in 1942. He only played for the Steelers through roughly three seasons, but that did include an MVP effort in 1946. He was the best talent that the club had seen up to this point in their young history. Dudley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.
1943 (Pick 7): Bill Daley (FB), Minnesota
Another failed draft pick that never showed up to play for Pittsburgh was Bill Daley. He chose to play in the All-American Football Conference instead. He would play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Miami Seahawks, Chicago Rockets, and New York Yankees during his professional career playing football.
1944 (Pick 10): Johnny Podesto (RB), St. Mary's (CA)
Timing never seemed to work out between Johnny Podesto and his professional football career. He could not play for the Steelers two years after they drafted him because of his military service. He would sign with Pittsburgh after his service concluded but never showed up. Podesto also never showed up to the Chicago Bears after signing with them the season after.
1945 (Pick 2): Paul Duhart (RB), Florida
Paul Duhart has a unique NFL story. He was granted permission to sign with the Green Bay Packers a year before he was drafted by the Steelers. He did not last long in Pittsburgh as the Boston Yanks purchased him after only two games with the club. Duhart would go on to suffer career ending injuries quickly after joining the Yanks.
The Steelers round out the decade with a majority of draft failures
1946 (Pick 3): Doc Blanchard (FB), Army
We reach another top pick in the NFL draft by Pittsburgh that decided against playing football professionally. He had a bunch of promising talent coming out of Army, but he decided to go another route to make money. Doc Blanchard decided on a military career was better than football and it left the Steelers with another wasted first round pick.
1947 (Pick 5): Hub Bechtol (WR), Texas
A theme has been becoming evident throughout the 1940s for this organization, no one wanted to play for them. They were still the laughingstock of the NFL and there were other leagues competing with them. Hub Bechtol was another wasted pick as he decided to play for the Baltimore Colts of the All-American Football Conference rather than the NFL.
1948 (Pick 9): Dan Edwards (WR), Georgia
Just like the year prior, the All-American Football Conference stole the Steelers first round pick again. Dan Edwards was a talented player and decided to join the Brooklyn Dodgers of the NFL's competing league. Just too many wasted picks in the first round to even have a shot at turning the ship around in the right direction for the franchise.
1949 (Pick 6): Bobby Gage (RB). Clemson
Finally, Pittsburgh got a player that they chose in the first round of the draft to join their club. Bobby Gage held an NFL record for longest run by yardage at 97 that resulted in a touchdown. That is still the longest in Steelers history. Gage would retire after only two seasons to focus on family life and continue his professional career elsewhere.
1950 (Pick 8): Lynn Chandnois (RB), Michigan State
Probably the best selection out of any of the first-round picks in this chunk of time of roughly five years. Lynn Chandnois was an effective running back for the Steelers and used his skillset both running and catching the ball. Chandnois had two Pro Bowl seasons before he retired after seven seasons in Pittsburgh.
Top picks of the Steelers finally started to show up and play
1951 (Pick 9): Butch Avinger (FB), Alabama
Another failed pick by the black and gold as they used their first-round pick in 1951 on Butch Avinger. He was only with the club for about a year before he went to the Canadian Football League. He then went to the New York Giants where he did finally get significant playing time. His career did fizzle out after his stay in New York.
1952 (Pick 6): Ed Modzelewski (FB), Maryland
Another pick that decided to join the team after the Steelers selected him in the draft. Ed Modzelewski had an average rookie year before he hurt his neck. He was then traded to the Browns where he would enjoy a couple of strong seasons. Pittsburgh got future Hall of Famer Marion Motley in exchange for that trade, but he did not play much.
1953 (Pick 5): Ted Marchibroda (QB), St. Bonaventure Detroit
Pittsburgh decided to draft the local kid with Ted Marchibroda hailing from Franklin, PA. He would be with the team for a year before he had to serve in the military. His career started off slow with the Steelers, but he put up decent numbers during his lone year as the starter. Marchibroda would go on to have a tremendous and long coaching career.
1954 (Pick 7): Johnny Lattner (RB), Notre Dame
Johnny Lattner won the Heisman trophy during his time at Notre Dame. He only played for the Steelers for a season, but he had a tremendous rookie year. He left for the Air Force and suffered a career-ending injury during that time. Lattner is a perfect example of terrible luck during the early days for Pittsburgh as he could have been a star.
1955 (Pick 6): Frank Varrichione (OT), Notre Dame
One of the longest standing draft picks by the Steelers up to this point in history was Frank Varrichione. He was an outstanding offensive lineman and got compensated for that in fairness. He was traded later in his career to the Rams for defensive line help, but Varrichione had a long tenure in the league, with half of his career in Pittsburgh.
Trades and giving up on draft picks end up biting the Steelers
1956 (Pick 1): Gary Glick (DB), Colorado State
Somehow the Steelers got lucky and won a lottery, which the NFL created into a spectacle. They decided on taking Gary Glick first overall despite not knowing much about the player. Glick had an alright career, but nothing really to write home about. He remains the only defensive back to ever be selected number one overall in the NFL draft.
1956 (Pick 5): Art Davis (RB), Mississippi State
Another draft pick by Pittsburgh that could not shake the injury bug was Art Davis. He was seen as an explosive player coming out of college. He would only play a couple of games in the professional ranks as a shoulder injury delayed his start. His career's unraveling started with a knee injury that quickly progressed into a career ending issue.
1957 (Pick 5): Len Dawson (QB), Purdue
Len Dawson would turn out to be a future Hall of Fame player, but his success would not come with the Steelers. The club still stunk, and they desperately wanted to try and find a quick fix so after taking Dawson in 1957 they added Bobby Lane just a year later. Who knows what would have happened if Dawson stayed in Pittsburgh, maybe it would have been terrible, but maybe it would have been great.
1958: No pick, traded to 49ers. Received Earl Morrall, Mike Sandusky. Traded away Marv Matuszak 1958 first, 1959 first.
Giving up two first round picks to add a couple of players is a bold choice, and one that better work out in your favor. Overall, it did not turn out to be the worst move by Pittsburgh as Earl Morrall was able to positively impact the club and help them get to an even record. Sandusky was a nice addition to the offensive line.
1959: No pick, traded to 49ers
It is always hard to see your first round pick sitting there with another team, especially when the top guy you traded for you lose sight of. Morrall would only last a year with the Steelers before they promptly dealt him away in a deal that brought Bobby Layne aboard. Probably would have been better off keeping those two first rounders if you were just going to get Layne anyways.
The start of the 1960s draft classes were overall failures by the Steelers
1960 (Pick 6): Jack Spikes (FB), TCU
Starting off the 1960s off poorly here as Jack Spikes was another failed selection by the black and gold. He decided to play in the NFL's then competing league at the time. Spikes would never join the Steelers after they selected him and had a decent career with the likes of the Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Oilers, and Buffalo Bills.
1961: No pick, traded to 49ers. Received Dicky Moegle. Traded away 1961 first round pick
This move seemed to somewhat work in the Steelers favor. Dicky Moegle was a good safety in the NFL, and the 49ers did not select any great talents for what Pittsburgh gave up in the trade. This deal did become somewhat soured because the club would deal Moegle away only a year later. He did have a great season in Pittsburgh that included six interceptions.
1962 (Pick 5): Bob Furguson (RB), Ohio State
The good news is that the Steelers were able to get a player to join them over another competing league. The bad news is that Bob Furguson was not able to have a long and successful career in the professional ranks. A head injury cut his career short and not too many impressive stats were laid out during his short playing days.
1963: No pick, traded to Chicago Bears. Received Rudy Bukich. Traded away 1963 first round pick.
Another hail Mary trade here by the Steelers as they hoped Rudy Bukich would be a saving grace at quarterback. He was a young and relatively inexperienced player in the league despite being employed by three clubs prior. He would get a chance to start for the black and gold, but those seasons were not successful.
1964 (Pick 10): Paul Martha (RB), Pittsburgh
A nice little story here as Paul Martha was picked by his hometown Steelers in the NFL draft. He would start on offense where he did not make much of an impact. Martha would make the transition to defensive back after a few years on offense, which gave his career new life. He would be a solid player for the Steelers after that switch.
Steelers miss on Hall of Famer but round out the 60s with a home run
1965: No pick, traded to Chicago Bears. Received second and fourth round picks, Traded first round pick away that ended up being Dick Butkus.
We start off with a massive failure by the black and gold on two fronts. Firstly, they traded away the third overall pick for only a second and fourth rounder, which is embarrasing enough. To add insult to injury, that third overall pick was used on future Hall of Fame linebacker, Dick Butkus. A terrible draft trade for the Steelers.
1966 (Pick 3): Dick Leftridge (RB), West Virginia
Another failed first round pick and it is considered one of the worst choices in Pittsburgh history. Dick Leftridge would only be with the club for a year and only appeared in four games. He would leave the game of football after that season after a promising collegiate career at West Virginia.
1967: No pick, traded to Green Bay Packers. Received Lloyd Voss and Tony Jeter. Traded away 1967 first round pick.
Not the worst trade that this franchise has made when dealing out their first-round pick. They got a solid starter in Lloyd Voss that played respectfully with the Steelers for six years before moving onto another club. Tony Jeter did nothing to write home about, but he was a nice throw-in for this deal.
1968 (Pick 10): Mike Taylor (OT), USC
Mike Taylor was nothing special during his time in Pittsburgh, but he did stay with the club for two years. That might not seem like much, but that is a successful pick when compared to the lack of selections that stayed with the Steelers for any sort of time. Taylor was not an earth-shattering talent at offensive tackle and both parties went their separate ways after two seasons.
1969 (Pick 4): Joe Greene (DT), North Texas
Most will say this was the best pick in Steelers history and those folks would be right. He not only was a Hall of Fame player, but he changed the entire culture of the organization. Joe Greene made people proud to represent the Steelers organization and success soon followed after Greene joined the team.
Everything starts to come together in the 70s for Pittsburgh
1970 (Pick 1): Terry Bradshaw (QB), Louisiana Tech
Back-to-back great picks by the franchise here will only make them one of the best in the NFL. The Steelers select Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw number one overall. Quarterback is an increasingly important position at this point in the league’s timeline. Bradshaw had the arm strength and toughness that this club needed.
1972 (Pick 13): Franco Harris (RB), Penn State
Seems like the Steelers cannot miss in these recent years as the 70s were very kind to the black and gold. Franco Harris was another great selection that wound up being another Hall of Fame player that had one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. Harris would help them establish a consistent run game throughout his career.
1973 (Pick 24): J.T. Thomas (DB), Florida State
Perhaps the least notable out of these recent selections, J.T. Thomas is one of the unsung heroes of the dynasty teams of the 1970s. He would not make a Hall of Fame career, but he was a consistent starter that was able to be effective with Mel Blount opposite of him. Thomas fit the mold of that defense and was a solid first round selection.
1974 (Pick 21): Lynn Swann (WR), USC
Pittsburgh kicked off the best ever draft class with their top pick Lynn Swann. He would also go on to have a Hall of Fame career with his acrobatic catches throughout his career. One cannot dismiss the number of Hall of Famers that this club was able to get out of this draft class entirely. It turned everything into championship level.
Steelers build a dynasty and add role players with their top draft choices
1975 (Pick 26): Dave Brown (DB), Michigan
Dave Brown was a big-time player during his collegiate days at Michigan. He never started for the Steelers during his only season with Pittsburgh, but he did win a Super Bowl with them. Brown would be selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL expansion draft and went on to have a long and successful career in the league.
1976 (Pick 28): Bennie Cunningham (TE), Clemson
Adding some talent to the offense is something the Steelers were looking to accomplish to their Super Bowl rosters. They did that by adding Bennie Cunningham to round out the first round of the draft. He had a respectable career that saw him win two Super Bowls with the club, but he played in the wrong era for tight ends when it came to their usage in the passing game.
1977 (Pick 21): Robin Cole (LB). New Mexico
Perhaps the draft choice with the biggest shoes to fill entering the league was Robin Cole. He had to become the started after Andy Russell decided to retire. He became the starter and filled in perfectly. Cole would have a long career in the NFL, with most of his years in the black and gold uniform.
1978 (Pick 22): Ron Johnson (DB), Eastern Michigan
Ron Johnson is someone that is not remembered much with the 1970s dynasty teams. He started at cornerback for multiple seasons for the Steelers where he was able to provide quality snaps. Johnson won two Super Bowls with the club before he retired after seven seasons in the NFL.
1979 (Pick 28): Greg Hawthorne (RB), Baylor
Probably the least effective pick in this portion of the 70s was Greg Hawthorne. The Steelers seemed to want someone that could replace an aging stable of running backs, but that failed. Hawthorne would not have much success in the NFL, but he did stick around the league for nine years between the Steelers and two other franchises.
Things start to spiral downwards by the time the 80s roll around
1980 (Pick 28): Mark Malone (QB), Arizona State
Terry Bradshaw was getting older so the hope was Mark Malone could become the next starting quarterback for the Steelers. He would become the quarterback, but it would not lead to much success. Bradshaw would have his career end similarly to Ben Roethlisberger's injury and the club started to struggle.
1981 (Pick 17): Keith Gary (DE), Oklahoma
Just a bizarre story with this first round pick by the Steelers as Keith Gary did not sign with them to start his career. He went to Canada to play up north for a couple of years before he finally joined Pittsburgh. Gary did not do anything notable during his time with the Steelers, but he was a role player on defense for his six years in the NFL.
1982 (Pick 12): Walter Abercrombie (RB), Baylor
Overall, Walter Abercrombie was not a bust, but he wasn't what the Steelers had hoped for either. He produced a few strong seasons with the team that totaled over 1,000 scrimmage yards. Most of his career left some meat on the bone and Abercrombie was out of the NFL only seven years after being selected 12th overall.
1983 (Pick 21): Gabriel Rivera (DE), Texas Tech
The infamous 1983 NFL draft where the Steelers selected Gabriel Rivera over the hometown kid, Dan Marino. Rivera would barely play for the club before his career was cut short due to a motor vehicle crash. Marino would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, which will always make Pittsburghers wonder what could have been.
1984 (Pick 23): Louis Lipps (WR), Southern Mississippi
One of the more underrated players in the history of first rounders by Pittsburgh is Louis Lipps. He played on some terrible offenses, but he was still a dynamic playmaker at receiver. Lipps was a nice value selection here and went on to have a great career that saw him get elected to the Pro Bowl and All-pro teams multiple times.
The 80s continue to be a forgetful decade for Pittsburgh football for the most part
1985 (Pick 20): Darryl Simms (DE), Wisconsin
It's been a while since the Steelers saw a complete draft bust, but that’s exactly what Darryl Simms was. He only played with the club for two seasons before he moved on to the Cleveland Browns for a couple of years. Pittsburgh continued to struggle with their decision making regarding the draft in the 80s.
1986 (Pick 9): John Rienstra (OG), Temple
Not the worst pick by the Steelers in this portion of their history, but it was not close to being their best either. John Rienstra was expected to be a top guard in the NFL, but that never materialized once he got in the league. He only started for the club for one season but turned out to be a backup for most of his career.
1987 (Pick 10): Rod Woodson (DB), Purdue
Finally, they hit a pick out of the park here by selecting Rod Woodson in the 1987 NFL draft. He would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and had some amazing seasons during his time in Pittsburgh. His legacy with the club would be smeared a little since he would go on to play with three other clubs before he retired.
1988 (Pick 18): Aaron Jones (DE), Eastern Kentucky
Nothing great here when you talk about the selection of Aaron Jones out of Eastern Kentucky. He was able to stick around the NFL for eight seasons before he retired from the game of football. The Steelers were not able to get much out of him and he was a bust for the most part despite hanging around the NFL.
1989 (Pick 7): Tim Worley (RB), Georgia
Tim Worley is one of the biggest draft busts in Steelers history. He had a good start to his career after amassing over 700 rushing yards during his rookie campaign. After that, he struggled to do much on the field, which was rare since he battled injury and suspensions for a lot of his career.
1989 (Pick 24): Tom Ricketts (OT), Pittsburgh
The Steelers decided to be aggressive and try to upgrade their tackle position. They dealt Mike Merriweather to the Vikings for their first rounder to get Tom Ricketts out of Pittsburgh. It was a deal that saw the black and gold on the losing end. Merriweather would go on to start for the Vikings while Ricketts turned out to be a bust.
The early 90s showed some ups and down for the Steelers in round one
1990 (Pick 21): Eric Green (TE), Liberty
Pittsburgh starts off their new decade of the 90s with a successful first-round pick. Eric Green was a solid tight end for the Steelers when he was on the field. He held out a few times for a contract and had some suspension issues. Green played tight end for the most part, but he also lined up at other positions on offense.
1991 (Pick 15): Huey Richardson (DE), Florida
One of the notorious top picks of the Steelers in their draft history was Huey Richardson. He never fit what the black and gold did schematically as a team and did not work out. They tried to move him around to a couple different positions and would only last in Pittsburgh for a year before new Head coach Bill Cowher traded him for a seventh rounder.
1992 (Pick 11): Leon Searcy (OT), Miami
Everything in the relationship between Leon Searcy and the Steelers was difficult during his three seasons in Pittsburgh. He held out for different contract reasons and that put him behind the eight ball. After a decent season in year two, there became a contract issue put in place and he would move on to another club and get paid massive money.
1993 (Pick 23) Deon Figures (DB), Colorado
Nothing to really write home about Deon Figures and his time in Pittsburgh. He never really lived up to the first-round status and fizzled out of the NFL after six seasons. He did start for the Steelers for the entire 1994 season, but he never did anything special. Figures produced some average numbers across his entire career.
1994 (Pick 17): Charles Johnson (WR), Colorado
Charles Johnson was a decent first round pick by the black and gold with their recent string of failures in the early 90s. He was able to produce respectable numbers throughout his career with Pittsburgh and beyond. Johnson had a good NFL career overall and helped the club by being more of a complimentary piece on offense.
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.
The 2000s kick off a decade of strong draft selections in round one
2000 (Pick 8): Plexico Burress (WR), Michigan State
Starting off the new decade strong here with the selection of Plexico Burress. He was a big playmaker for the offense during the early 2000s for the Steelers offense. He was a big receiver that had a 13-year career, which included six seasons with the black and gold. Burress was a great start to the new decade for Pittsburgh.
2001 (Pick 19): Casey Hampton (DT), Texas
Taking a nose tackle this early in the draft might be seen as a little too rich nowadays, but it was great value then. Casey Hampton would become one of the best run defenders in Steelers history and help this defense become a consistent group in the 2000s. Hampton would go on to enjoy an 11-year career, all with Pittsburgh, and accumulate two Super Bowl victories.
2002 (Pick 30): Kendall Simmons (OG), Auburn
Adding another strong offensive lineman to the club to help make Jerome Bettis's life a little easier was a top priority. Kendall Simmons was a good get at this point in the first round. He was a solid starter at guard opposite of Faneca. Injuries seemed to end his career early, but he did win two Super Bowls with the Steelers.
2003 (Pick 16): Troy Polamalu (DB), USC
Perhaps one of the best moves by the black and gold this decade was the trade they made to move up in the 2003 NFL draft. They moved up to select Troy Polamalu out of USC, and he became an instant fan favorite. Polamalu would enjoy a Hall of Fame career and is arguably the best safety to ever wear the uniform.
2004 (Pick 11): Ben Roethlisberger (QB), Miami (OH)
One of the best picks in the history of the franchise here as everything went right when they took Ben Roethlisberger in the first round. He was able to slip enough so that the Steelers could take him, and the rest is history. Roethlisberger leads the team records in almost every category for his position and will be a Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible.
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.
One failed pick but otherwise a strong start to the 2010s for Pittsburgh
2010 (Pick 18): Maurkice Pouncey (OC), Florida
One of the best centers to ever lace up the cleats for the Steelers was Maurkice Pouncey. Other than one lengthy injury early into his career, he was the epitome of reliable and effective as an anchor on the offensive line. Pouncey is a borderline Hall of Famer and could eventually get that call to join the legendary members in Canton, OH.
2011 (Pick 31): Cameron Heyward (DE), Ohio State
Back-to-back potential future Hall of Famers here to start off the 2010s for the Steelers. Cam Heyward had a slow start to his career but quickly turned into one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the past decade. Heyward is one of the best players to ever play for the Steelers and will likely be top two for the record in franchise sacks for a while.
2012 (Pick 24): David DeCastro (OG), Stanford
Another player that could have been a borderline Hall of Famer if he played longer at his quality of work was David DeCastro. It was a sight for sore eyes when he dropped to the Steelers at pick 24 in the 2012 NFL draft. He was a guard that resembled the play of Alan Faneca, but he and his team could never get to that Super Bowl championship status.
2013 (Pick 17): Jarvis Jones (LB), Georgia
We reach a speed bump here as Jarvis Jones was one of the biggest busts in franchise history. He had poor testing numbers and questionable health concerns throughout the draft process in 2013, but the Steelers ignored that because of his high production in college. Unfortunately for both parties involved that never translated and Jones was not in the league for long.
2014 (Pick 15): Ryan Shazier (LB), Ohio State
Perhaps the biggest what if in franchise history is Ryan Shazier. He was a highly athletic linebacker that was able to make plays. Just when things were starting to come together for Shazier, he suffered a devastating injury. It was nothing the NFL world had ever seen to that point, and it caused for a promising young career to be cut short.
Some draft busts and a couple of hits to round out the Steelers 2010s era
2015 (Pick 22): Bud Dupree (LB), Kentucky
Most considered the selection of Bud Dupree to be great value at the time of the pick. He was a promising prospect coming into the NFL. He did enjoy a couple of great years with the Steelers, but many wonder if that was the T.J. Watt effect or not. Dupree has enjoyed a nice career in the league but seems to be slowing down.
2016 (Pick 25): Artie Burns (CB), Miami
A failed first round pick here as Artie Burns seemed to struggle from day one. He seemed to be a pick that was forced once the Steelers lost their top option William Jackson III just a pick before. He could never adapt to being a quality starter for Pittsburgh or any other club that he has played for. Burns was a draft bust overall, but he is still in the NFL to this day.
2017 (Pick 30): T.J. Watt (LB), Wisconsin
Hitting a grand slam here with the late first round pick here with Watt as his NFL bloodlines flow like a river. He has been a dominant force in the NFL and is on a historic run that has not been seen in the Steelers history. If Watt can stay healthy then he will be known as one of the best defensive players in NFL history when it is all said and done.
2018 (Pick 28): Terrell Edmunds (DB), Virginia Tech
Everything pointed to this pick being a bust for the black and gold, but it all kind of worked out. Having a late pick means that you want to try and get a starter for your defense, and that is exactly what happened here. Terrell Edmunds will always be remembered as being over drafted, but he turned out to be a consistent starter.
2019 (Pick 10): Devin Bush (LB), Michigan
The biggest draft bust in recent history is Devin Bush, especially after the team traded up to get him. It never worked out between Bush and the Steelers as he suffered a season-ending injury early into his career. Everything was downhill after that and now he is on his second team in his career, but things do not look great in terms of his career’s future.
A couple of big moves will alter the Steelers future through these additions
2020: No pick, traded to Miami Dolphins. Received Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2020 fourth round pick, and 2021 seventh round pick. Traded away 2020 first round pick, 2020 fifth round pick, and 2021 sixth round pick.
One of the best trades that Kevin Colbert ever made as Steelers general manager was trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick. It came during a season where the club was playing with two different backup quarterbacks after Ben Roethlisberger was out with a season ending injury. Fitzpatrick has been playing at an elite level since joining Pittsburgh.
2021 (Pick 24): Najee Harris (RB), Alabama
Although you could criticize this pick for being a running back, you can see why the Steelers took Najee Harris. It made sense at the time, but the emergence of Jaylen Warren goes to show why the position is not highly valued in the league anymore. Harris has been a nice addition to the offense, but adding other needs might have been the better route to go.
2022 (Pick 20): Kenny Pickett (QB), Pittsburgh
It is hard to judge a pick after only one season in the NFL upon writing this article. Kenny Pickett is not a top quarterback in the NFL right now, and he has a long way to go before that can be deemed upon him. He showed some promising things during his rookie campaign that should give fans hope. Don't expect Pickett to be a savior heading into year two, but he does provide a sense of hope.
2023 (Pick 14): Broderick Jones (OT), Georgia
Again, the jury is still out on this one as no one can even come close to grading this selection. Broderick Jones fills a need, and he should have a high ceiling as he gets settled into the NFL. Unless he becomes a reliable starter at tackle, this could be a draft bust, especially after the black and gold traded up to pick him.