The 2025 NFL Draft just took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin over the weekend. Over the three-day period, 250+ amateur players heard their names called in the hopes of locking down a professional contract with one of the league’s 32 teams.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers selected DL Derrick Harmon out of the University of Oregon with the 21st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While every draft season is filled with a mix of hype and hope, the draft isn’t always about who a team takes, but also about who they don’t. In the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers, making the right pick in this year’s draft was critical to return to the lofty standards that the franchise once held. For NFL fans who have ever tried betting on the draft, either in person or by using betting apps, the odds of making the correct choice aren't as favorable as they might seem. Imagine being the front office staff who has their jobs, let alone the future of the franchise, at stake.
Possessing the 21st pick (1st round), 83rd pick (3rd round), 123rd pick, (4th round) 156th pick (5th round), 185th pick (6th round) and 229th pick (7th round) going into the draft, the Steelers looked to fill a number of holes including at defensive tackle, quarterback, and running back. When you look back at the history of the Steelers' draft picks, there have been a number who didn’t just fill out a roster spot, but rather redefined their position, carving out a Hall of Fame worthy career.
1st Round - Joe Greene
When Chuck Noll and company selected “Mean Joe” with the 4th pick in the 1969 draft, the defensive tackle from North Texas State almost single handedly turned the team around.
While some may argue that “Big” Ben Roethlisberger or Terry Bradshaw should be listed here (and they may not be wrong), Greene, the 1969 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, quickly became a cornerstone of the “Steel Curtain,” one of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. Earning two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, Greene helped the team capture four Super Bowl titles from 1974 to 1979.
2nd Round - Jack Lambert
Not all NFL stars come from big name college programs, such as Kent State linebacker, Jack Lambert. A high school quarterback turned defensive stopper, Lambert defied the odds, proving to those who thought he was too small at 6’4”, 220lbs, that heart and determination have no measurements.
Selected 46th overall, Lambert joined the Steelers during the famed “Steel Curtain” era, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year and proving to be one of the biggest steals in NFL history.
3rd Round - Hines Ward
A multi-positional player in high school and during his four years with the Georgia Bulldogs, Hines Ward became known as one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. Overlooked by every team in the league for the first two rounds, primarily because he was found to not have an ACL his left knee (the result of a childhood accident), Ward took it upon himself to make all of those teams second guess their decision after being picked up by Pittsburgh with the 92nd selection.
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Steelers' Hines Ward.
Although it took some time, Ward became a mainstay as the Steelers primary target, eventually finishing his career as the team’s all-time leader in multiple categories, while helping Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl championships.
4th Round - Ike Taylor
A walk-on member of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Rajin’ Cajuns, cornerback Ike Taylor played a key role in the Steelers Super Bowl XL and XLIII victories.
Drafted 125th overall, Taylor’s explosive speed and size helped earn a roster spot and after two years a permanent starting role, shutting down opposing receivers for twelve seasons, defying the odds of how long a fourth-round pick usually lasts in the NFL.
5th Round - Mike Webster
The story of “Iron” Mike Webster is one of both triumph and tragedy. A farm boy from Wisconsin, Webster started playing football during his junior year of high school, but quickly became a fixture on the offensive line. Not only one of the Steelers best late round picks, but one of the best fifth round picks in NFL history, Webster anchored the team’s offensive line for fifteen seasons, earning 9 trips to the Pro Bowl and four Super Bowl titles. Unfortunately, 12 years after retiring, Webster would pass away at the age of 50 due to severe CTE suffered throughout his career.
6th Round - Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown’s off-field antics are a story, but when it came to performing on the field, there were few better wide-receivers during the 2010s than the 195th selection from the 2010 NFL Draft.
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Steelers' Antonio Brown and Hines Ward at then-Heinz Field.
Despite having a stellar high school career, Brown’s academic status and behavior deterred many college programs. Following three seasons with the Central Michigan Chippewas, Brown entered the 2010 draft, starting his NFL career as part of the Steelers special team’s unit. It wouldn’t take Brown long to prove he deserved a bigger role.
7th Round - Brett Keisel
He may have been a late round draft pick as a player, but Brett Keisel’s beard itself is worthy of an early first round selection. Selected 242nd overall, Keisel, who bounced between Brigham Young University and Snow College during his collegiate career, slowly climbed his way up the Steelers defensive end depth chart.
Playing his entire 12-year NFL career with the Steelers, Keisel helped the team secure two Super Bowl championships while earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2010.
