First-round hits outnumber misses
Ranking GM Colbert’s best and worst
(This will be general manager Kevin Colbert’s 20th season in charge of the Steelers’ player personnel department, and 20th draft under him. This is the first in a series looking at the best and worst of those draft choices. Today, the first-round picks.)
Despite drafting later in the round for most of this century, the Steelers have had plenty of success with their 19 first-round picks under Colbert.
There could be three Pro Football Hall of Famers from that group — Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu (eligible for the class next February) and Maurkice Pouncey.
Perhaps the only bust in the first round has been Jarvis Jones, although Artie Burns is making his pitch to become the second.
Some good players did not make the best six (there was a tie for fifth), like Lawrence Timmons, Santonio Holmes, Ryan Shazier, and by the time David DeCastro’s career is over, he may well move into the top five.
Here then, is our choice for the Steelers’ best six (with a tie) first-round draft choices and the worst five under Colbert:
THE 6 BEST
1. Ben Roethlisberger, QB (2004, No. 11) – He has virtually every Steelers passing record, plus two Super Bowl rings in three appearances. Maybe Dan Rooney should get credit for this pick because he said and wrote that Colbert and Bill Cowher wanted to draft guard Shawn Andrews until he stepped in. Nevertheless, the pick was a great one.
2. Troy Polamalu, SS (2003, No. 16) – With this one, Colbert and Cowher get full credit because they traded up from No. 27 to 16, costing them their picks in the third and sixth rounds. Most definitely worth it. A game-changer on defense. Polamalu did for the defense what Roethlisberger did for the offense and, likewise, has two rings.
3. Maurkice Pouncey, C (2010, No. 18) – The tradition of great Steelers centers returned with him. He started every game as a rookie and after missing all but one game in 2013, has missed little since. He started every game the past four seasons except when he was rested in two finales with others at the end. Seven Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros.
4. Heath Miller, TE (2005, No. 30) – He had the perfect combination for the position as a receiver and blocker. While he made only two Pro Bowls, the Steelers believed they had the best all-around tight end in the game during his prime. Has two Super Bowl rings and helped them get their first with a big early start in their playoff victory in Indianapolis in the 2005 season. Caught 592 passes (11.1 yard average) and 45 TDs in his 11 seasons.
5. (tie) Casey Hampton, NT (2001, No. 19) – The Steelers had the luxury of trading down in the round, from No. 16, and still drafting him while gaining picks in the fourth and sixth rounds. He became the fulcrum to some of the best run defenses in the NFL in this century, back when nose tackles were vital to the 3-4 defense. Huge and athletic, he made five Pro Bowls and has two rings.
5. (tie) Cam Heyward, DE/DT (2011, No. 31) – Heyward has anchored the right side since late in 2013, when he succeeded Brett Keisel. He helped change how they played their defensive ends, allowing him to play more one-gap to rush the passer while also stout against the run. He led the team or was tied for the team lead in sacks three times and has 20 over the past two seasons, both career highs at 12 and 8.
THE 5 WORST
1. Jarvis Jones, OLB (2013, No. 17) – They force-fed him as their starting right outside linebacker as a rookie and, in 14 games and eight starts, he had one sack. He got off to a fast start in 2014 with two sacks before he injured his wrist while forcing a fumble in the third game, and had surgery, ruining that season. He did little after that. He started 15 games in 2015 with two sacks and finished his four-year career with six sacks total.
2. Artie Burns, CB (2016, No. 25) – After a reasonably successful rookie season, Burns slipped over his next two years. He not only failed in coverage, he was not a good tackler. He had three of his four career interceptions as a rookie. Last season, he started just six of the 16 games, losing his job to veteran Coty Sensabaugh and playing mostly on special teams. Recently, GM Kevin Colbert said that Burns needs to regain his confidence. They’re not likely to pick up his fifth-year option in May.
3. Ziggy Hood, DL (2009, 32) – Not a bad player at all, which shows how well they’ve drafted in the first round. He was never an impact player. Hood became a starter during his second season but slipped to a part-time starter in 2013, and the Steelers never signed him to another contract. Still, he has played for four teams since then and remains on Miami’s roster.
4. Rashard Mendenhall, RB (2008, No. 23) – Mendenhall had his moments with the Steelers, just not enough of them. After missing most of his rookie season because of a broken shoulder, he rushed for 1,108 yards his second season, 1,273 in his third and 928 in his fourth. His fifth would be his last as he fell out of favor and behind the likes of Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman. Mike Tomlin suspended him for one game after he didn’t show up for the previous game when told he would be inactive.
5. Bud Dupree, OLB (2015, No. 22) – He has a chance to climb a little higher on this list if he does not improve this season, his fifth, and that also gives him a chance to remove his name from this group. He has had 20 sacks over four seasons, but he has rarely been an impact player despite playing at an impact position. He has just two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in his four seasons, despite starting 39 of the 54 games he has played.