The Steelers have a long history of building through the draft. In order to successfully do this, you need to be able to land impactful and talented players early in the draft. This fills needs and keeps the roster strong. In recent years, it also keeps the roster cheaper, as rookies tend to be on cheaper contracts than established veterans.
I wanted to take the time to rank the first-round picks of the Mike Tomlin era as we head into this next draft. While rosters are built with more than just first-round picks, missing on the top selection can set the team back. Those picks are naturally the most valuable, and consistently missing on them is damaging.
I’ve compiled all 15 first-round picks of the Mike Tomlin era and ranked them in order from worst to best. There is an analytical element to this, as I took into account their stats with the Steelers, awards, and longevity with the team. This is a personal list, so I also added my personal belief about how the player was for the team. This gave me a final grade out of 100.
Important to note, even though they are newer in their Steelers career, Najee Harris and Kenny Pickett are ranked on this list. Their grades were adjusted to not focus on the longevity with the team (since they are still on their rookie deals).
Finally, any name on this list that isn’t retired could still feasibly see their rank increase. This is especially true of Harris and Pickett, but Cameron Heyward can continue to climb while the likes of Bud Dupree and Terrell Edmunds could see their ranking rise if they were to return to the team.
With all of that said, here is my ranking of every first-round pick of the Tomlin era.
15. Jarvis Jones, 2013 first-round pick
Ranking dead last is Jarvis Jones. Jones has a special place in my heart. The 2013 draft was the first one I remember “scouting” as a fan. I was enamored by Jones due to his impressive 28 sacks over only two seasons at Georgia. I never watched his tape, so I never saw the fact that most of his sacks were extremely low quality and I ignored his horrible athletic testing.
Unfortunately, those issues have a tendency of being exploited at the NFL level, and Jones was no exception. Sacks didn’t come as easily as they did in school and Jones quickly fell out of favor in Pittsburgh. He got plenty of opportunities to start and play, but his talent limited his ability to succeed.
Jones easily had the lowest score of anyone on this list. He never had a good season as a starter or as a rotational player, and his stint with the team ended after his rookie contract. He never played elsewhere, as he signed with the Cardinals but failed to make the team. Granted, that doesn’t affect his final grade, but it shows just how bad of a player he was.
Jones never materialized into a good starter for this team, and he never came close to replicating the stats he had in college. Because of this, he takes the spot of the worst first-round pick of the Tomlin era.
14. Artie Burns, 2016 first-round pick (TIED)
Based on my ranking, Artie Burns is tied for the second to last worst pick, and it is the only tie on this entire list. Thus, I made a judgment call, and while Artie Burns had a decent rookie season, his fall from grace makes him the next worst pick on this list. I opted to place him in this lowly spot.
Burns's draft story is almost as infamous as his play in Pittsburgh. The Steelers had keyed in on most major cornerbacks given their need at the position. Specifically, they wanted William Jackson, but the Bengals took him one pick sooner. The team seemingly scrambled and took their next-best cornerback on their board in Burns.
Burns was an underdeveloped prospect that had the size and athleticism of a top prospect. His technique was raw, but Pittsburgh was hoping he would overcome it. His rookie season made it seem like that could happen. Burns was productive, and while he had a few mistakes, he seemed poised to make a leap in his next season.
That never materialized, as Burns fell apart in his second season and was benched by year three. A decent start never got improved upon, and Burns was let go after his contract expired. He has bounced around as a reserve since, and his play was akin to what he ended up offering the Steelers, which certainly isn’t worth a first-round pick.
13. Evander Hood, 2009 first-round pick (TIED)
While he had an identical score as Burns did, I opted to place Evander “Ziggy” Hood a spot higher. This is due to his consistency as a player. While I would argue that Burns had a better rookie season than any of Hood’s years with the team, he also never suffered the lows that Burns experienced.
Hood was a similarly consistent player at Missouri, racking up steady, never-gaudy stats. The Steelers went into that offseason with two established, but older defensive ends. Retooling the group was a wise move, and Hood would be given the necessary time to develop behind some talented veterans.
While he tested as a good athlete, Hood was on the smaller size for defensive ends in the Steelers scheme. The team has utilized bigger bodies there in the past, and Hood broke that mold. While more of a nose tackle build, he didn’t take up enough space on plays to b effective there. Instead, he had to play either of the end positions for the team.
He never developed much because of it and after five seasons of below-average play, the Steelers allowed Hood to walk into free agency. While he didn’t turn into a redemption story by any means, Hood did hang around as a reserve for quite a few more seasons. That is another testament to his steady, but mediocre, play.
Had Hood been able to string together a few highlights and carve out a few average seasons, he would be far higher up on this list. Consistency is a good thing, but when that consistency is below-average play, it makes it hard to rank Hood much higher than this.
12. Devin Bush, 2019 first-round pick
The Steelers have needed linebacker help for years, and the team honed in on Devin Bush during the 2019 NFL Draft. It required a trade-up, costing the team an additional second and third-round pick to acquire him. Given his athletic profile and instant starting status, the team seemed like they had found their guy.
Bush come out of college a decorated defender. While he didn’t have the traditional size you looked for at linebacker, he had sideline-to-sideline athleticism that made him a threat to secure the tackle when given space. While not his strongest suit, Bush’s athleticism made him a threat in coverage as well.
He showed all of that during his rookie season. Bush was a dynamic athletic presence for the defense and showcased some special plays. Was he perfect? No, but his athletic presence made up for a lot of his issues. He seemed poised for a jump in year two.
He was playing well in his second season until he was injured for the season. The injury seemed to zap him of a lot of the athleticism that made him a capable starter. His third season with the team was a trainwreck, and while he got slightly better in year four, it still wasn’t enough to warrant keeping him around.
Bush was never a great threat to get through blockers because of his size, and once that athleticism left him, Bush lost his ability to play sideline to sideline. The decent play of his first two seasons has been overshadowed by his lackluster last two seasons. He certainly didn’t live up to his first-round billing.
While I didn’t account for players' draft positions due to the Steelers usually picking in the latter half of the first round, I did ding Bush further due to the team having to trade up for him (had Pittsburgh traded back, that also would have factored into his). He isn’t the bottom of the barrel, but Bush’s lack of impact and cost to acquire him made him a poor pick.
11. Rashard Mendenhall, 2008 first-round pick
At this point, I would argue that we are shifting out of the conventional draft busts and moving more into just poor picks. These players weren’t monumental busts, but they didn’t justify their first-round billing.
Leading off the charge is Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers invested their top pick in Mendenhall during the 2008 draft with the hopes that he would reinvent their power running game during the end of Willie Parker's tenure with the team.
Mendenhall had a slow start to his college career, but he exploded onto the scene his junior year with nearly 2000 total yards and 19 touchdowns. He followed that up with an impressive combine, and he looked like a player that could have some burst and power given his size and build.
While he had a few good seasons for the Steelers, Mendenhall never became a true top back. He struggled with injuries and never overcame a less-than-ideal offensive line. He did have a pair of 1000 seasons, but that was more due to his workload and less due to Mendenhall’s actual ability as a runner.
He played out his contract with the Steelers and had one more season left in him in Arizona. He wasn’t effective there either, and his tenure in the league ended after that. I’m very much against taking running backs in the first round, and Mendenhall is further proof that top picks on backs are wasted picks.
2008 is seen as one of the worst Steelers drafts in recent history. While Mendenhall wasn’t a complete failure like the other names listed so far, he certainly didn’t save the class he was in. He never became more than an average plodder, and the team certainly missed when they picked him in the first round.
10. Kenny Pickett, 2022 first-round pick
This is a hard ranking to make. Kenny Pickett only played one season with the Steelers so far, and I have to grade him based on that season alone. I did grade each first-round pick partially on how long they lasted with the team, so I did adjust any player's grade that is still on their rookie deal to accommodate this. I do expect him to move higher up this list as his career progresses, but for now, Pickett doesn’t look like a tremendous pick.
Pickett spent five seasons at Pitt, and for the most part, he was a safe but unspectacular quarterback. His final season saw him take off though, as he became the top quarterback in the ACC and a Heisman finalist. This launched him into the first round conversation of the draft.
The Steelers took him, and he saw the field early in the season. It was a bumpy road, as Pickett struggled with mistakes early on. Even after he cleaned that up, he still struggled to consistently put up top performances. While he made some clutch throws, he also missed a lot of easy ones.
Again, I expect Pickett to have a better second season, and assuming he continues to improve, he should go up this list. That is all projection though, and I have to grade him based on his performance so far. His rookie season wasn’t that great, and because of that, Pickett can’t be ranked highly on this list yet.
9. Najee Harris, 2021 first-round pick
Like Pickett, Harris still has time to improve his status on this list. As of now though, he has had a pair of underwhelming seasons for the team and certainly hasn’t turned this running game into a strength like many thought he would.
Harris was another of a string of successful Alabama running backs. He benefited from playing behind one of the best lines in the nation, and he progressively worked his way into a starting role. His final two seasons were impressive, raking up nearly 3,500 total yards and 50 touchdowns. Despite not testing during the offseason, the Steelers still took Harris in the first round.
The first two seasons have been a disappointment. While his overall stats look ok, he benefited from a massive workload and an extra game each season. He hasn’t been able to post a healthy rushing average since entering the league.
No, he hasn’t had the best offense to work in, but Harris as a player also shares some fault. Despite being a power back, Harris tends to dance around the line and try and bounce rushes to the outside. Even when he plays to his strong suit, he still hasn’t been an effective rusher.
Again, Harris can work his way up this list, but as of now, he is easily in the bottom half of the Tomlin first-round picks. He hasn’t transformed this rushing unit as many hoped he would. Add in the general lack of value in taking running backs early and this hasn’t been a great selection overall.
8. Terrell Edmunds, 2018 first-round pick
Many people irrationally hate Terrell Edmunds and were happy to see him depart this off-season. I don’t get it. Did Edmunds become a star player in this league? No, but he developed from a poor starter into an average one.
Edmunds was a freaky player alongside his brother at Virginia Tech. While not as big as his brother, Edmunds played a variety of roles while in school before settling in at safety in his final season. He tested as a great athlete and was a surprise first-round pick by the Steelers. Most saw him squarely as a second-round pick entering the draft.
Edmunds was thrust into a starting role early, and the results were very mixed. He struggled in coverage and became a very limited box safety early on. That said, he progressed every year and took steps forward every season as a starter. Again, he never became a star, but he turned into a stable force in the secondary.
While you could argue the value of an Edmunds in the first round, he certainly wasn’t a bad pick overall. The Steelers got five seasons out of him, and the last two have been above average. Expectations were higher for a first-round pick, but Edmunds became a fine starter for this team.
7. Bud Dupree, 2015 first-round pick
We are now officially out of the poor picks (or poor picks so far in the case of Harris and Pickett) and into the fine selections. While Bud Dupree isn’t a superstar, he became a very good pass rusher for the Steelers before departing for Tennessee. His story may also not be done, as there seems to be a good chance he returns to the team.
Dupree was a force at Kentucky, utilizing his size, strength, and speed to rack up pressures and sacks. Unfortunately, due to his athletic talent, he never developed great technique and was seen as a raw player coming out of school despite being a senior in school. He surprisingly fell to Pittsburgh's pick in the 2015 draft.
He had a slow start to his career, as injuries and inconsistent play limited Dupree. As time went on, his technique improved and meshed well with his athleticism. He also had the benefit of playing across another name on this list, which certainly helped his case.
His play got so good that he ended up earning the franchise tag before departing in free agency. While Dupree never took the steps needed to be elite, he turned into a great starter and a consistent presence off the edge. He turned into a quality starter, and his story may not be done with the team yet.
6. Ryan Shazier, 2014 first-round pick
Let me start by saying that I am beyond thankful to see Ryan Shazier walk again. Frankly, none of us should overly care about a ranking of him considering the trauma he went through. The fact he is walking and has moved on with his life’s work is amazing, and I am so happy to see him healthy.
In terms of draft picks of the Tomlin era, Shazier is very much a what-if. The uber athlete joined the team and quickly established himself as a playmaker. Early on, he had a lot of warts to work through, as he struggled with some consistencies, but he ended up making an impact.
Shazier enjoyed an extremely productive career at Ohio State. His sophomore and junior seasons were great, as he played sideline to sideline and attacked the backfield. This yielded sacks and tackles for losses in bunches, and his athletic profile made him the Steelers target in 2014.
As said, he did struggle with some consistencies early on, but he worked his way into a starting role and didn’t look back. His playmaking ability continued in the pros, as he was constantly around the football. The defense hadn’t had a playmaker like that since the prime of the defense in the mid-2000s.
His untimely injury came right as he was taking the next steps as a player. He was going from a good defender into a superstar, but that was all cut short due to his career-ending back injury. Again, we should just be happy that he is healthy, but this is easily the biggest question mark of this ranking.
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.
4. David DeCastro, 2012 first-round pick
It was unfortunate to see David DeCastro’s career end the way that it did. Despite being consistently among the best guards in the league, injuries derailed his final few seasons and forced an early retirement. Despite all of that DeCastro still ranks with the top picks that Tomlin has ever taken in the draft.
DeCastro was a highly touted prospect coming out of Stanford, and he was expected to go early in the 2012 draft. He famously fell on draft night right into the Steelers hands. Despite not targeting prospects that far west, the team was quick to scoop him up and end his draft-day slide.
He missed most of his rookie season with an injury, but after that, DeCastro was a different animal for this line. He was a people mover that mauled defenders, opened holes, and was a menace in space. He was a key reason for the development of this line into a top unit. I would also argue that at his best, he was hands down the best offensive lineman this team possessed.
His play took a dive in his final season, and a lot of that seems to be attributed to the injuries he played through. He lacked the explosion off the line and his strength seemed more limited. It was revealed that he had bone spurs, the Steelers cut him, and that has seemingly ended his career.
Had he been able to play for a few more seasons, I genuinely think DeCastro would have been the second name on this list. Because of the shortened career and injuries at the end though, DeCastro finds himself as a respectable fourth option on this list.
3. Cameron Heyward, 2011 first-round pick
At this point, Cameron Heyward has a viable shot at moving into second place on this list. Despite being older, Heyward’s play is still dominant. If he can put together a few more top-level seasons, he can see his ranking move up. As well, that will greatly strengthen his case to eventually make it to the Hall of Fame.
Heyward spent four seasons at Ohio State, and he was a primary starter for most of his career. He wasn’t a sack monster in school, only registering 15.5 total in his four seasons in school. He was a competent defender that shot gaps well and disrupted plays in the backfield. The Steelers landed him at the end of the first round of the 2011 draft.
While it took a few seasons, Heyward became everything that Hood didn’t. He consistently dominated the line of scrimmage and has become a bully to opposing offensive linemen. His play has seemingly improved as he has gotten older, as he has added to his repertoire of pass-rushing moves.
Nothing can take away from his strength though. It was his calling card early and still is today. Heyward’s bull rush is second to none, and he still makes an impact every week for the Steelers. He was a great selection in the first round and has become an all-time great for this team.
2. Maurkice Pouncey, 2010 first-round pick
The Steelers have a long history of great centers, and while Maurkice Pouncey’s career didn’t last as long as some of the former greats, he still left an impact on this team. From the moment he was drafted, Pouncey became the stabilizing force of a line that was transitioning into a great group.
Pouncey only played two seasons at Florida before declaring for the draft. Despite only average testing, the Steelers still made Pouncey their top choice in 2010. He came in and started instantly for this team.
He was an instant star, earning accolade after accolade early on. He did enough to even get votes for offensive rookie of the year, quite the accomplishment for a center. His career didn’t cool off from there, as he continued his top level of play and provided stability at center. This helped him earn a handful of Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations.
Like DeCastro, Pouncey’s career did get hampered by injuries later on. He was still a fine starter, but mounting injuries began to limit Pouncey late in his career. He retired early (albeit, by his own choice), and rode off into the sunset in 2020.
While many critiqued Pouncey’s play later in his career, the team has struggled to replace even his worst play since he retired. That is a further testament to just the impact player he was. He was recognized as one of the league's best centers for most of his career, and because of that, he earns the second spot for Tomlin's first-round picks.
1. T.J. Watt, 2017 first-round pick
I mean, could it have been anyone else? T.J. Watt isn’t just the best first-round pick of the Tomlin era, but he is going to go down as one of the best Steelers players of all time. He is well on his way to being considered an all-time great and a slam dunk Hall of Fame player.
Watt wasn’t always a guarantee though. He only had one year of real defensive production at Wisconsin, and while he tested as a good athlete, he was seen as a risk. Many people thought that his name carried more weight than his actual ability as a player. That didn’t stop the Steelers from adding in at the end of the first round.
The results were almost instantaneous. Watt became a starter in his first season, and he posted a respectable stat line that year. He then proceeded to go on a tear every season since, wracking up Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations in the process. He is rightfully regarded as one of the best edge rushers in the league because of this.
Watt has become a superstar player and one of the hardest to plan against as an opposing team. Assuming he keeps the pace he is on, he will break quite a few records and easily find himself in Canton someday.
To put all of this in perspective, my grading system was out on 100, with the only “extra credit” a player could earn by being selected as an All-Pro. Watt scored 106 percent and was the only player to be over 100 percent. He was the best selection by a mile and is deserving of being the top first-round pick of the Tomlin era.