The 2023 NFL Draft is one week away and there continues to be a large amount of speculation as to what the Pittsburgh Steelers should do. The most common scenario that has been brought up is the potential trade with the Chicago Bears for the ninth overall pick. Before diving into that topic, we should look back at other times the Steelers have traded first round picks and how things turned out for the team. This includes trading up in the draft and trading back to acquire certain players.
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Steelers’ Positive Experiences With Dealing Picks
The Steelers have had a myriad of experiences when it comes to the movement of first-round draft picks, most of which have been to move up in the draft. In 2001 however, Pittsburgh did the opposite and traded back in the draft. The trade involved the 16th overall pick being sent to the New York Jets for the 19th overall pick, as well as the 111th and 181st picks. The Steelers used the 19th pick to select Casey Hampton.
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Hampton was a key piece of the defense for Pittsburgh over the span of his 12-year career. Hampton earned himself five Pro Bowl nods while aiding the Steelers in three AFC Championships and two Super Bowl victories. Safe to say that even though they didn’t go the usual route and trade up in the draft, this move helped set the Steelers up for long-term success. In 2003, the team reverted to the traditional draft day trade up and it became a great compliment to the Hampton deal.
Pittsburgh was looking to add more star power to their defense and were primarily looking to acquire safety Dexter Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who was coming off a Super Bowl XXXVII victory, as well as being named Super Bowl MVP. Jackson was a highly sought after free agent and the Steelers believed they had gotten their man after he verbally agreed to sign with the team. Unfortunately, Jackson would later recant on this decision and ink a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
It was at that moment that then Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert had to devise a backup plan to address the safety position. They were looking to draft a high-rated player in Troy Polamalu.
Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The only problem for Pittsburgh was that they had the number 27 pick, and Polamalu would be long gone before they would be on the clock. So, the Steelers swung a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the 16th overall pick. The package that was sent to the Chiefs included the 27 pick, 92nd pick and 200th pick.
After struggling in his rookie season, Polamalu rapidly developed into an All-Pro caliber player, becoming a First-Team All-Pro four times and a two-time Second-Team All-Pro. Polamalu would also be named to eight Pro Bowls in 11 years.
In 2005, Polamalu was an absolute beast in the postseason, helping the Steelers become the first six-seed to win the Super Bowl in Super Bowl XL. Three years later, he would be a crucial piece that propelled the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII, securing the franchise’s sixth championship.
In 2010, Polamalu won Defensive Player of the Year, being on a short list of Steelers to ever win the award. A decade later, Polamalu earned a gold jacket by being a first ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While Polamalu was certainly a major factor in the triumph over the Cardinals in the Super Bowl in 2008, he wasn’t necessarily the deciding factor. That player came in a trade back in 2006.
After coming off a successful year of winning it all, it seemed unorthodox for the Steelers to trade up in the NFL Draft, but they still did. Pittsburgh shipped the 32nd, 96th and 129th picks to the New York Giants in exchange for the 25th overall pick. With this pick, the Steelers selected Santonio Holmes. Holmes had great production early in his career, but the most important catch of his career came in the Super Bowl in 2008. Second and goal with 42 seconds remaining in the game, and the black and gold down by three, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws to the back right corner of the end zone, and Holmes comes down with it!
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Holmes had his toes in bounds and the rest was history as Pittsburgh won their sixth Super Bowl. Holmes among other names have uplifted the Steelers over the years in their quest for success, but not every draft day trade works out in Pittsburgh’s favor.
The Downside Of Draft Day Trades
With every positive move, there’s also a chance for a negative one. The most recent trade that feels like a loss was the 2019 move to jump from 19 to 10 to draft Devin Bush.
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Initially, this move was viewed very highly as Bush was an All-American at the University of Michigan and the Steelers believed he was the right man to replace Ryan Shazier after his injury. Bush had a great rookie season that included two interceptions, four fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a defensive touchdown.
Bush looked to be on track for great career until he tore his ACL in 2020 and he was never truly the same afterwards. Bush wasn’t able to make the same plays he once did, which forced the Steelers hand in deciding to not pick up his fifth-year option. Bush played the remainder of his contract in 2022 for Pittsburgh and became a free agent, eventually signing with the Seattle Seahawks. This is a prime example of a risk on draft day not panning out the way everyone was hoping.
Decision For Draft Day 2023
After reviewing some trades, the Steelers have made in the past involving first round picks, and the players selected with each of them, it seems like Pittsburgh could potentially have good fortune if they decide to move up in the draft. Whether they will or not is still to be determined, but if they do, it’s possible we might see another piece to the missing Super Bowl puzzle being added to the fold.
Do you believe the Steelers should try to move up in the 2023 NFL Draft? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section and on social media.
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