The Pittsburgh Steelers have nailed quite a lot of draft picks over the previous 25 years. It’s why they’ve the second-most wins within the NFL since 2000, trailing solely the New England Patriots. They’ve persistently discovered early-round studs and late-round gems, notably on protection. Bleacher Report launched a rating of the 25 greatest draft picks over the previous 25 years, they usually selected three Steelers picks: Troy Polamalu (2003), Antonio Brown (2010) and T.J. Watt (2017).
Watt was ranked 21 on the listing.
“Like Jefferson and Purdy, there’s nonetheless room for the 2021 Defensive Participant of the Yr to climb this listing as a late first-rounder, however Watt is already a future Corridor of Famer with 4 first-team All-Professional nods,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon. “Seven edge defenders went off the board earlier than Watt did.”
Watt has been a prime 5 defensive participant within the league for almost all of his eight-year profession. He’s led the NFL in sacks thrice, together with the 2021 season during which he tied Michael Strahan’s single-season document with 22.5 sacks. Watt’s a tenacious bully on the skin, clubbing 350-pound tackles with one arm and swiping them with the opposite. He’s acquired an array of strikes to get to the quarterback, and he’s been the very best within the league at forcing fumbles, whether or not it’s a strip sack on a quarterback or a “peanut punch” on a working again.
The large query looming over the Steelers this offseason is Watt’s contract. The previous thirtieth decide within the draft will likely be a Corridor of Famer sometime, and he deserves to receives a commission prefer it.
Polamalu was one spot forward of Watt at 20.
“The Corridor of Famer was handed on 15 occasions in ’03 earlier than making eight Professional Bowls,” wrote Gagnon. “He was the league’s defensive participant of the yr in 2010.”
It’s exhausting to think about a extra good profession from a first-round decide than Troy Polamalu. He was an excellent, high-character participant for a decade, main one of many biggest defensive items in NFL historical past. He was an All-Professional participant on two Tremendous Bowl-winning groups (’05 and ’08), and he gained the Defensive Participant of the Yr award within the 2010-11 season, when a dominant Steelers protection led the group to a different Tremendous Bowl look.
Taken at decide 16, Polamalu ended up being far and away the very best first-rounder within the 2003 draft. Whereas youthful followers may simply keep in mind him because the Head and Shoulders industrial man with extravagant hair, we keep in mind him for his signature leaps over the offensive line, chin strap snapping hits over the center, and ridiculous interceptions like this one.
And sixth-round draft decide Antonio Brown was ranked because the thirteenth greatest decide of the twenty first century.
“The important thing right here is spherical six,” wrote Gagnon. “A hilarious 21 receivers had been chosen earlier than Pittsburgh lastly took Brown in 2010, and he wound up on the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Group because of seven Professional Bowl nods.”
Brown tarnished his legacy together with his dramatic spiral following his departure from the Steelers. He’s had dozens of off-the-field points, fines and is presently wished for an tried homicide cost.
However my goodness, he was a once-in-a-lifetime expertise at vast receiver. Brown had 5 or so seasons the place he was unquestionably the very best pass-catcher within the league. He caught all the pieces that Huge Ben Roethlisberger threw his approach, whether or not he needed to do the “Tony-toe-tap” alongside the sidelines, flip his hips to make a again shoulder catch, or snag throws that had been off track with one hand.
He’s one of many biggest sixth-round picks in NFL historical past and would firmly be a Corridor of Famer if not for his wild antics and speedy departure from the league.
These three gamers — Polamalu, Brown and Watt — had been defining gamers over the previous 25 years. Let’s hope that Omar Khan and the Steelers discover loads extra draft gems within the subsequent 25.
