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It’s pretty common to hear someone say the Pittsburgh Steelers know how to draft wide receivers. But is that true? Or is SteelerNation still living in the past? This question crossed my mind after reading a Facebook post from a friend, and former staffer here at SteelerNation.com. His name is John Walker, and if you want to follow a great and knowledgeable Steelers fan, you can check him out here.
Let’s take a look at every wide receiver selected under Kevin Colbert and how they’ve fared during their time in the NFL, and Pittsburgh specifically:
2020 – Chase Claypool (R2)
These are the most recent selections, and the one’s most fresh in everyone’s mind I’m sure. Despite what a lot of Steelers fans think, Johnson has turned into a true #1 receiver. They weren’t ever going to find another Antonio Brown, but they found someone that can get off the line of scrimmage in the same mold as Brown. He’s struggled with drop issues during his time, but he’s kept his head down and kept improving. The jury is still out on Claypool. If he’s able to grow and mature, he could turn into a dominate force in the NFL. He has the size, and speed to do it, it’s just a matter of if his ego is going to allow him to do it.
Smith-Schuster was a bonafide stud when he was playing opposite of Brown, but since then, he’s been average. Washington flashed brilliance. His ability to combat catch was amazing, but we saw it more in the preseason than we did in the regular season. He led the Steelers in receiving with Ben Roethlisberger sidelined in 2019, but was a ghost when Roethlisberger was on the field. Roethlisberger usually brings out the best in receivers, not vice versa. He will get a chance to show his skills in Dallas now.
Demarcus Ayers scores a touchdown against Cleveland | Steelers.com
Ayers was the fan favorite 7th round pick that everyone thought would make the team and develop. He got on the field a little bit near the end of the 2016 season, but ultimately was released during the playoffs. When the Steelers tried to sign him back to the practice squad, he balked and signed with New England instead. He was out of the league soon after.
Jury is still out on some of these guys, but for the time being, they drafted and developed one WR1 out of this group.
Next 5:
2015 – Sammie Coates (R3)
This just isn’t a good group. Bryant was possibly the greatest waste of talent in Steelers history. The dude had all of the tools. Size, good hands, and deadly speed for a tall dude. He could break the 10-yard slant and go to the house. He just couldn’t stay away from substances that would get you banned by the NFL’s rules. The fact that they got a draft choice from Oakland for him was one of the greatest heists in NFL history.
Steelers receiver Sammie Coates.
Coates and Wheaton had high expectations. Coates was released during training camp in his third season. He finished his NFL career with 29 receptions and he actually started five games for Pittsburgh in 2016. Wheaton spent two seasons as a starting receiver for Pittsburgh in 2014 and 2015. He had 97 catches and 7 touchdowns during those two years. Then in 2016, his season was riddled with injuries and he only played in three games. That was the final year of his contract and the Steelers choose to replace him in the draft with Smith-Schuster instead of bringing him back. He caught his final three NFL passes in 2017 with Chicago.
Clemons didn’t make the team in 2012. He spent time with Jacksonville, Carolina and San Diego as he bounced around the league for three years. He finished his career with 3 receptions. Obviously he was a 7th round pick, so not much is expected. But he ended up being just a toss away selection. Justin Brown in 2013 spent the entire season on the practice squad. In 2014, he started one game, and finished the season with 12 receptions for 94 yards. He’d spend the off-season with Buffalo in 2015 before being released among the first cuts.
So from 2012 to 2021, Colbert and company isn’t doing too well. Not even taking into consideration the poor late round receivers, they struck out on two third rounders, and a second rounder. If Johnson leaves after this season they’ll have nothing to show for any of them.
Previous 5:
2010 – Emmanuel Sanders (R3)
Here is your bread and butter. Wallace in 2009, and Sanders and Brown in 2010. Wallace burst onto the scene as a rookie and his elite speed made him a very dangerous deep threat. He started 48 games for the Steelers, but the team wasn’t able to keep him when it came time for a new contract. They tried, but ultimately he turned them down and they turned to Brown and paid him instead. Sanders was the higher pick, but Brown was the elite one as we all know. Sanders was a bit of a disappointment in Pittsburgh. Injuries, and some untimely drops didn’t endear him to the fans. He’d go on to have a solid career that’s still going on. Wallace was never the same once he left Pittsburgh and bounced around to a few different teams before retiring.
Ben Roethlisberger in the huddle with Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. | USA Today
Brown would’ve had a shot at Jerry Rice‘s records if he didn’t go off the deep end. There isn’t a lot to say here about Brown that hasn’t been covered repeatedly for years. The guy’s talent and work ethic was unmatched. He could’ve had statues built of him in Pittsburgh had he not lost his mind. Colbert uncovered a diamond in the 6th round with Brown.
Sweed was one of the biggest busts in Steelers history. He was this huge Texas receiver that was supposed to go in the first round, but he slipped to the Steelers in the second round. And he was awful. He couldn’t catch, and he famously dropped a critical pass in the AFC Championship game and laid on the ground pretending to be hurt. The play caused the Steelers to burn an unnecessary timeout for an injured player.
Baker had one reception for the Steelers and was out of the NFL after one year.
This group is the group that further developed the narrative that Colbert and Tomlin could do no wrong when it comes to selecting receivers. These guys continued success in the league, paired with flashes in the pan like Wheaton, Smith-Schuster, and Washington has kept the narrative going all of these years. But everything began with a player on the next set of names.
WALLACE: 538 RECEPTIONS 8072 YARDS 57 TOUCHDOWNS
SANDERS: 704 RECEPTIONS 9245 YARDS 51 TOUCHDOWNS
BROWN: 928 RECEPTIONS 12291 YARDS 83 TOUCHDOWNS
2006 – Santonio Holmes (R1)
Willie Reid tries to get up field against the Dolphins in 2007 / Getty
In Colbert’s first draft, he selected Burress with a top 10 pick. Burress had a shaky start to his career, but his talent was eventually tapped once he matured. He’d be a perfect pair with Hines Ward until he eventually left after his first contract. Had Ward not been there, the Steelers probably would’ve kept Burress, but the money went to Ward and they could only pay one. It was the right decision. Burress was a solid player for the New York Giants, winning a Super Bowl with them. His career was derailed when he went to jail, but he came back and eventually signed back with the Steelers for a final ride.
The other receiver taken that year was Farmer. He was a huge bust and didn’t even make it out of training camp. Which almost all 4th round picks are guaranteed a roster spot. He wasn’t and was released. The Cincinnati Bengals actually signed him and he spent three years there catching 43 passes. He caught his only career touchdown pass against the Steelers, and helped the hapless Bengals beat the Steelers late in the 2001 season.
Gibson was even worse than Farmer. Hard to believe, but he was also a 4th round pick and was released before the season started. He signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad. Spent the entire season there, then bounced around to a few training camps, but never made an active roster. The next year they busted again with Reid. They tried the big Georgia receiver with Gibson and that didn’t work, so this time they went for the speedy shifty guy from Florida State. He sucked too. He was cut after his second season and finished his career with 4 receptions.
Mays stuck around the Steelers for several years. He was decent enough to keep making the team as a bubble player. He mostly contributed as a special teamer on coverage teams. As a rookie, he was the Steelers primary return man, but he didn’t keep that job in 2003. He had 11 receptions in his career.
Holmes was the player that started the narrative. He was a stud from the beginning, and he was thrust into the spotlight in his third season by making the greatest touchdown catch in team history and winning Super Bowl MVP. A lot of the other issues with Holmes are overlooked, and rightfully so in my opinion. But he had some off the field issues that ultimately got him traded to the New York Jets. He spent four seasons there, but never found the success he did in Pittsburgh. Randle El helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL, and they got a fair amount of production, but he left town when his rookie contract was up. He fell into the same category as Burress. He was due for a large raise, but Ward was the one getting all of the money. The touchdown pass in the Super Bowl to Ward helped him cash in with Washington.
Holmes celebrates his winning touchdown in SB 43 / ESPN
So there it is. It’s all laid out up there for you. There are some solid names, and one elite player. There’s also a lot of high expectations, no production. It’s a mixed bag that’s probably comparable to each team in the NFL when it comes to success on drafting a certain player. Chances of drafting stars is a lot less than that of drafting busts. But overall, the narrative is probably a little skewed because of the success of a small few over a long period of time.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
Let’s take a look at every wide receiver selected under Kevin Colbert and how they’ve fared during their time in the NFL, and Pittsburgh specifically:
2020 – Chase Claypool (R2)
2019 – Diontae Johnson (R3)
2018 – James Washington (R2)
2017 – JuJu Smith-Schuster (R2)
2016 – Demarcus Ayers (R7)
These are the most recent selections, and the one’s most fresh in everyone’s mind I’m sure. Despite what a lot of Steelers fans think, Johnson has turned into a true #1 receiver. They weren’t ever going to find another Antonio Brown, but they found someone that can get off the line of scrimmage in the same mold as Brown. He’s struggled with drop issues during his time, but he’s kept his head down and kept improving. The jury is still out on Claypool. If he’s able to grow and mature, he could turn into a dominate force in the NFL. He has the size, and speed to do it, it’s just a matter of if his ego is going to allow him to do it.
Smith-Schuster was a bonafide stud when he was playing opposite of Brown, but since then, he’s been average. Washington flashed brilliance. His ability to combat catch was amazing, but we saw it more in the preseason than we did in the regular season. He led the Steelers in receiving with Ben Roethlisberger sidelined in 2019, but was a ghost when Roethlisberger was on the field. Roethlisberger usually brings out the best in receivers, not vice versa. He will get a chance to show his skills in Dallas now.
Demarcus Ayers scores a touchdown against Cleveland | Steelers.com
Ayers was the fan favorite 7th round pick that everyone thought would make the team and develop. He got on the field a little bit near the end of the 2016 season, but ultimately was released during the playoffs. When the Steelers tried to sign him back to the practice squad, he balked and signed with New England instead. He was out of the league soon after.
Jury is still out on some of these guys, but for the time being, they drafted and developed one WR1 out of this group.
Next 5:
2015 – Sammie Coates (R3)
2014 – Martavis Bryant (R4)
2013 – Markus Wheaton (R3)
2013 – Justin Brown (R6)
2012 – Toney Clemons (R7)
This just isn’t a good group. Bryant was possibly the greatest waste of talent in Steelers history. The dude had all of the tools. Size, good hands, and deadly speed for a tall dude. He could break the 10-yard slant and go to the house. He just couldn’t stay away from substances that would get you banned by the NFL’s rules. The fact that they got a draft choice from Oakland for him was one of the greatest heists in NFL history.
Steelers receiver Sammie Coates.
Coates and Wheaton had high expectations. Coates was released during training camp in his third season. He finished his NFL career with 29 receptions and he actually started five games for Pittsburgh in 2016. Wheaton spent two seasons as a starting receiver for Pittsburgh in 2014 and 2015. He had 97 catches and 7 touchdowns during those two years. Then in 2016, his season was riddled with injuries and he only played in three games. That was the final year of his contract and the Steelers choose to replace him in the draft with Smith-Schuster instead of bringing him back. He caught his final three NFL passes in 2017 with Chicago.
Clemons didn’t make the team in 2012. He spent time with Jacksonville, Carolina and San Diego as he bounced around the league for three years. He finished his career with 3 receptions. Obviously he was a 7th round pick, so not much is expected. But he ended up being just a toss away selection. Justin Brown in 2013 spent the entire season on the practice squad. In 2014, he started one game, and finished the season with 12 receptions for 94 yards. He’d spend the off-season with Buffalo in 2015 before being released among the first cuts.
So from 2012 to 2021, Colbert and company isn’t doing too well. Not even taking into consideration the poor late round receivers, they struck out on two third rounders, and a second rounder. If Johnson leaves after this season they’ll have nothing to show for any of them.
Previous 5:
2010 – Emmanuel Sanders (R3)
2010 – Antonio Brown (R6)
2009 – Mike Wallace (R3)
2008 – Limas Sweed (R2)
2007 – Dallas Baker (R7)
Here is your bread and butter. Wallace in 2009, and Sanders and Brown in 2010. Wallace burst onto the scene as a rookie and his elite speed made him a very dangerous deep threat. He started 48 games for the Steelers, but the team wasn’t able to keep him when it came time for a new contract. They tried, but ultimately he turned them down and they turned to Brown and paid him instead. Sanders was the higher pick, but Brown was the elite one as we all know. Sanders was a bit of a disappointment in Pittsburgh. Injuries, and some untimely drops didn’t endear him to the fans. He’d go on to have a solid career that’s still going on. Wallace was never the same once he left Pittsburgh and bounced around to a few different teams before retiring.
Ben Roethlisberger in the huddle with Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. | USA Today
Brown would’ve had a shot at Jerry Rice‘s records if he didn’t go off the deep end. There isn’t a lot to say here about Brown that hasn’t been covered repeatedly for years. The guy’s talent and work ethic was unmatched. He could’ve had statues built of him in Pittsburgh had he not lost his mind. Colbert uncovered a diamond in the 6th round with Brown.
Sweed was one of the biggest busts in Steelers history. He was this huge Texas receiver that was supposed to go in the first round, but he slipped to the Steelers in the second round. And he was awful. He couldn’t catch, and he famously dropped a critical pass in the AFC Championship game and laid on the ground pretending to be hurt. The play caused the Steelers to burn an unnecessary timeout for an injured player.
Baker had one reception for the Steelers and was out of the NFL after one year.
This group is the group that further developed the narrative that Colbert and Tomlin could do no wrong when it comes to selecting receivers. These guys continued success in the league, paired with flashes in the pan like Wheaton, Smith-Schuster, and Washington has kept the narrative going all of these years. But everything began with a player on the next set of names.
NFL Career Totals for Steelers’ Young Money Receivers
WALLACE: 538 RECEPTIONS 8072 YARDS 57 TOUCHDOWNS
SANDERS: 704 RECEPTIONS 9245 YARDS 51 TOUCHDOWNS
BROWN: 928 RECEPTIONS 12291 YARDS 83 TOUCHDOWNS
2006 – Santonio Holmes (R1)
2006 – Willie Reid (R3)
2005 – Fred Gibson (R4)
2002 – Antwaan Randle El (R2)
2002 – Lee Mays (R6)
2001 – Chris Taylor (R7)
2000 – Plaxico Burress (R1)
2000 – Danny Farmer (R4)
Willie Reid tries to get up field against the Dolphins in 2007 / Getty
In Colbert’s first draft, he selected Burress with a top 10 pick. Burress had a shaky start to his career, but his talent was eventually tapped once he matured. He’d be a perfect pair with Hines Ward until he eventually left after his first contract. Had Ward not been there, the Steelers probably would’ve kept Burress, but the money went to Ward and they could only pay one. It was the right decision. Burress was a solid player for the New York Giants, winning a Super Bowl with them. His career was derailed when he went to jail, but he came back and eventually signed back with the Steelers for a final ride.
The other receiver taken that year was Farmer. He was a huge bust and didn’t even make it out of training camp. Which almost all 4th round picks are guaranteed a roster spot. He wasn’t and was released. The Cincinnati Bengals actually signed him and he spent three years there catching 43 passes. He caught his only career touchdown pass against the Steelers, and helped the hapless Bengals beat the Steelers late in the 2001 season.
Gibson was even worse than Farmer. Hard to believe, but he was also a 4th round pick and was released before the season started. He signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad. Spent the entire season there, then bounced around to a few training camps, but never made an active roster. The next year they busted again with Reid. They tried the big Georgia receiver with Gibson and that didn’t work, so this time they went for the speedy shifty guy from Florida State. He sucked too. He was cut after his second season and finished his career with 4 receptions.
Mays stuck around the Steelers for several years. He was decent enough to keep making the team as a bubble player. He mostly contributed as a special teamer on coverage teams. As a rookie, he was the Steelers primary return man, but he didn’t keep that job in 2003. He had 11 receptions in his career.
Holmes was the player that started the narrative. He was a stud from the beginning, and he was thrust into the spotlight in his third season by making the greatest touchdown catch in team history and winning Super Bowl MVP. A lot of the other issues with Holmes are overlooked, and rightfully so in my opinion. But he had some off the field issues that ultimately got him traded to the New York Jets. He spent four seasons there, but never found the success he did in Pittsburgh. Randle El helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL, and they got a fair amount of production, but he left town when his rookie contract was up. He fell into the same category as Burress. He was due for a large raise, but Ward was the one getting all of the money. The touchdown pass in the Super Bowl to Ward helped him cash in with Washington.
Holmes celebrates his winning touchdown in SB 43 / ESPN
So there it is. It’s all laid out up there for you. There are some solid names, and one elite player. There’s also a lot of high expectations, no production. It’s a mixed bag that’s probably comparable to each team in the NFL when it comes to success on drafting a certain player. Chances of drafting stars is a lot less than that of drafting busts. But overall, the narrative is probably a little skewed because of the success of a small few over a long period of time.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
