The Pittsburgh Steelers have been acing the NFL Draft since Chuck Noll drafted Joe Greene in 1969. In the 54 years since Greene was picked, the Steelers have only picked in the top 10 of the NFL Draft seven times. Three of those picks were in Noll’s first three seasons and they have had the number one overall pick just once and they used it on Terry Bradshaw in 1970.
Photo Credit John McGonigal / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' 2022 first round pick, Kenny Pickett.
Steelers 2022 Draft Class Is More Than Kenny Pickett And George Pickens
Steelers fans are often accused of living in the past, pointing to Super Bowls and Hall of Fame players that have been retired for decades. Some of that criticism is fair, but the Steelers have had plenty of success in the 21st century. They have only one losing season and three Super Bowl appearances. The draft results, especially in the first round, are a little more inconsistent, but they are still impressive.
The 2023 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away and I thought it would be fun to look at the best picks by round in this century by the Steelers. The player has to have been drafted after 2000 to qualify for the list, so former NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and Willie Parker will not appear. Let’s take a look at who made the list!
First-Round Draft Pick
Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu had a knack for finding the ball whether it was to get an interception or make a tackle.
Troy Polamalu, USC 2003 - This was a tough call. TJ Watt might top this list in the very near future, and it was really hard to pass up Ben Roethlisberger who arrived the following year in 2004. The Steelers have 22 options and half of them have made the Pro Bowl and Roethlisberger, Cam Heyward, Maurkice Pouncey, and David DeCastro should all eventually make the Hall of Fame. Polamalu was the face of the Steelers’ Super Bowl defenses this century and he is already enshrined in Canton. You can argue, but he is still the most iconic player who donned the black and gold this millennium.
Second-Round Draft Pick
Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State 2013 - The Steelers have found gold consistently in the second round. LaMarr Woodley, Stephon Tuitt, multiple starting offensive linemen, and a plethora of wide receiver talent, but Bell was special and tops the list. Three Pro Bowls and All-Pro appearances in his five seasons with Pittsburgh. He set the postseason single-game rushing record against the Kansas City Chiefs in the last playoff victory by the Steelers in 2016. Unfortunately, Bell threw his career away with an ill-timed holdout and a lost season in 2018.
Third-Round Draft Pick
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Steelers' Diontae Johnson.
Diontae Johnson, Toledo 2019 - The third round could easily have gone to Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, or Javon Hargrave, but none got a second contract in Pittsburgh. Max Starks was a starter for a decade at tackle and got serious consideration, but ultimately the controversial wide receiver won out. He has a Second Team All-Pro nod and a Pro Bowl on his resume. ESPN named him the best at getting open in the NFL in 2022.
Fourth-Round Draft Pick
Ike Taylor, Louisiana 2003 - The easiest pick on the list. Taylor would be in the Hall of Fame if he caught just half of the interceptions he got his hands on during his career. He rarely gets credit for being the shutdown cornerback on the best defenses of this century, but very few were as gifted as Taylor one on one. Outside of Larry Foote and Martavis Bryant, the fourth round is pretty thin for the black and gold. That shouldn’t diminish Taylor’s accomplishments. He might not have made a Pro Bowl, but Steelers fans loved him.
Photo Credit: George Gojkovich/Getty Images
While he was never given much in terms of accolades, two-time Super Bowl winner Ike Taylor is one of the best examples of the Steelers turning a fourth round pick into a useful starter.
Fifth-Round Draft Pick
Clark Haggans, Colorado St. 2000 - The Steelers had two outstanding Colorado State linebackers as bookends during their first Super Bowl run in 2005. Haggans paired with Joey Porter to produce a fearsome pass rush during the run for one for the thumb. He edged out William Gay in a surprisingly thin round of options for Pittsburgh.
Sixth-Round Draft Pick
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan 2010 - The contrarian in me wanted to pick Vince Williams, but there really is no denying Brown his due. He had maybe the greatest six-season run by a wide receiver ever. Brown piled up Pro Bowls, All-Pro nods and 100 catch seasons but he, unfortunately, couldn’t keep it together, forced his way out of Pittsburgh and into infamy in 2019. Brown will eventually make the Hall of Fame as a player, but he still has a long way to go as a person. Hopefully, he will get there.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Antonio Brown dresses up as Brett Keisel for Halloween.
Seventh-Round Draft Pick
Brett Keisel, BYU 2002 - SteelerNation’s own Dee Gray drew serious consideration because Myron Cope was a homer and if it is good enough for Mr. Cope, it is good enough for Steeler Nation. Just kidding, Keisel was part of the last great Steelers defensive line with Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton. He made a Pro Bowl and started 114 games and played in three Super Bowls for the Steelers. Keisel and his beard are among the most beloved players who ever played in Pittsburgh.
That is the list! There were some surprisingly tough calls and just a reminder if you disagree with the choices, this was the 21st century only. The toughest call on the list was Roethlisberger vs Polamalu and next year it could go the other way. They were both great players and it is hard to tell the story of the Steelers without either one.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did I get it right? I encourage you to comment on Roethlisberger vs Polamalu below or my Twitter @thebubbasq.
