Ranking every Steelers first-round draft pick of the Mike Tomlin era

5. Lawrence Timmons, 2007 first-round pick

The first pick of the Tomlin regime, Lawrence Timmons was a different prospect coming out of Florida State. Timmons only played two seasons with the Seminoles, and he had a productive junior season that led to him having some hype entering the draft. The question was where would he play, as some saw him as an edge rusher while others viewed him as an off-ball linebacker.

The Steelers took him knowing that they would have to figure that out. He wore a variety of hats early before settling into his role as an off-ball linebacker, but he still made good use of his pass-rushing skills. Timmons was a regular force in the backfield and terrorized both running backs and quarterbacks.

As time went on, Timmons became a staple of this defense and was a regular star each week on defense. Despite his consistency and great play, he only ever made one Pro Bowl, a testament to the underrated nature of his play. By the time he entered the prime of his career, Timmons didn’t have a lot of weak spots in his game.

Even as he got closer to 30, Timmons was still an enforcer for the Steelers defense. He racked up over 100 tackles every year from 2012 until his final season in 2016. Despite being a core player for this defense, Pittsburgh allowed Timmons to leave in free agency. A one-year stint with the Dolphins was it for Timmons in the NFL.

While he lacks the accolades that the top names on this list have, Timmons was still a great player and a great selection for this team. He represents what you want in an above-average first-round pick. He became a good starter, had some great years, and was with the team through multiple contracts.