We are officially under a week until the 2023 NFL Draft and hearing 'the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock.' Last year, the team was able to get their franchise quarterback in Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall selection. This year, fans will wait until pick #17 to hear who the future of the black and gold will be. For now, let's go ahead and rank the top five all-time first-round picks that the Steelers have made in history. This is no small task as the organization has drafted many great stars and legends within the first round.
Photo Credit John McGonigal / Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Steelers select quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Steelers Top Five First-Rounders In History
#5: Troy Polamalu: 2003, 16th Overall
In what was probably the hardest decision, Troy Polamalu takes the spot from many of the other Steelers legends that could have been put in the top five. He gets the nod not only because of the impact that he made on the field with the Steelers from 2003-2014, but he has done in awesome community work in the city of Pittsburgh. It was impossible not to have him on this list.
Some would consider him the greatest safety of all time, but nobody can deny that he was the most exciting safety to ever play the game. Any time one thinks of Polamalu, you think of all of the one handed interceptions that he made while playing and looking like Odell Beckham Jr. as a safety.
Not only his play, but the accolades speak for themselves He is a member of the Pro and College Hall of Fame, a two-time Super Bowl champion, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and much more.
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.
#4: Franco Harris: 1972, 13th Overall
The man behind the greatest play of all time. Franco Harris is a staple for the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh. His passing in 2022 and the reaction that came from it show how great he truly was. The whole city of Pittsburgh came together to honor him and he will now have his #32 retired forever.
The accolades he piled on truly fit the man that he was. He was a Super Bowl MVP, NFL Man of the Year, NFL Rookie of the Year, four-time Super Bowl champion and is the face you see when you come into Pittsburgh every time from the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Photo credit: Steelers.com
Franco Harris rumbling his way to the game winning score.
#3: Terry Bradshaw: 1970, 1st Overall
The biggest toss-up was between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger, but Bradshaw comes in at number three. The leader behind the great 1970s Steelers dynasty who would go on to win four Super Bowls and have one of the greatest legacies of all time.
Bradshaw's accolades are something else as he was a two-time Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP. He will forever be one of the greatest quarterbacks to have played the game of football.
Portraits by Brent Humphries
Pittsburgh Steelers legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw in action.
#2: Ben Roethlisberger: 2004, 11th Overall
The face of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 18 years before Pickett. Roethlisberger truly had a special career. He brought the Steelers two Super Bowls with one of them leading to the team becoming the first organization to ever have six Super Bowl victories. Those 18 seasons were memorable.
Currently, Roethlisberger sits fifth all-time in career passing yards which is a big factor in why he gets the edge over Bradshaw, who sits nowhere close to Roethlisberger. In the end, both were dominant and created a great franchise in Pittsburgh.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger (#7) celebrates at Heinz Field during a regular season game against the Denver Broncos in 2021. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
#1: Joe Greene: 1969, 4th Overall
Arguably the greatest defensive player to ever play the game, Joe Greene dominated the game of football. He is one of just of three Steelers to have their jerseys retired and with Greene, it was much deserved. The four-time Super Bowl champion, two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Man of the Year was a dominant force.
Every time Greene would step on the field, he would make such an impact on the game and helped turn the storied franchise into what we know today.
Associated Press
“Mean” Joe Greene was a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense and a team that became a dynasty in the ’70s.
This list was incredibly difficult to decide on as greats like Alan Faneca, Cameron Heyward, Rod Woodson, TJ Watt, and Maurkice Pouncey were left off. So, do you think this list was right Steeler Nation? Who would you replace on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
