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The Pittsburgh Steelers have managed to remain successful throughout the years due to developing their draft picks. Since the 2021-22 NFL season has ended however, many teams have started contemplating a new strategy for success. It was shown by the Los Angeles Rams that sacrificing draft picks to go all in for a title run can pay off. The goal is always to be number one, especially when the championship window is wide open for your team, so if you believe you can win it all right now, should you wager your future to win in the present?
When it comes to the NFL Draft, one pick can change the entirety of an organization. For Pittsburgh, that change began in 1969 when they selected “Mean” Joe Greene with the fourth overall pick. Before drafting Greene, the Steelers were at the bottom of league, viewed as a dismal franchise that wasn’t going to be competitive anytime soon. Greene’s arrival made an instant impact, as he won Defensive Rookie of the Year, quickly becoming the foundational piece to build the team around. Greene would later be the centerpiece of the legendary “Steel Curtain” defense, joining fellow 1969 draft mate L.C. Greenwood, as well as 1971 draftees Ernie Holmes and Dwight White. With these four picks over the course of two years, the Steelers became a dynasty, winning four Super Bowls in a six-year span. Even though Pittsburgh hasn’t been able to perfectly duplicate this level of excellence, that doesn’t mean the team has been unsuccessful.
“Mean” Joe Greene (#75) | SI.com
Fast forward to the 2003 season and the Steelers were looking to get back to being a top team in the championship hunt. They needed help on the defensive side of the ball and had a verbal agreement in place to sign the reigning Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson, a safety from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the deal seemingly in place, Pittsburgh began to focus on selecting a running back in the draft. However, the team’s plan would change as Jackson didn’t end up signing with the black and gold, but instead chose the Arizona Cardinals after being offered more money. After losing out on a top safety in free agency, the Steelers shifted tactics and searched for a safety in the draft. Their main target was Troy Polamalu out of the University of Southern California, the top prospect in the draft at the safety position. While he may have been the man they wanted, it didn’t seem likely that Polamalu would land in Pittsburgh, given that the team had just the 27th pick in the draft. Many believed that he would be selected by the San Diego Chargers with the number 15 pick as they too were in dire need of a safety to replace Rodney Harrison. San Diego didn’t select him, but instead traded down for two other players in later rounds. With their man still on the board, the Steelers made a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to move up to the 16th pick and draft Polamalu. He wasn’t a starter in his rookie season, but Polamalu did finish the 2003 season with 38 combined tackles, (30 solo), and four passes defended. Even though he would become known as the “premier safety of his era,” Polamalu couldn’t carry the team alone. They still needed aid on the offensive side of the ball. That’s where the 2004 draft comes in.
That 2004 NFL Draft class had many highly touted quarterbacks. At the time, it didn’t seem like it was a position of need, according to head coach Bill Cowher and GM Kevin Colbert. Their selection was going to be University Arkansas guard Shawn Andrews. Owner Dan Rooney thought otherwise and used the 11th pick to select quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say, and at the time, this move shocked many people, including Steeler Nation. As it turns out, Dan Rooney was right to draft Roethlisberger as he went undefeated 13–0 in the regular season, (14–1 including playoffs), as the starting quarterback after both Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox went down with injuries. His regular season performance won him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Pittsburgh was able to advance to the AFC Championship Game in 2004, before being defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Being on the cusp of the Super Bowl helped set the stage for the Steelers the following year.
2004 NFL Draft NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is seen after being selected 11th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2004 NFL Draft on April 24, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
The year 2005 was an important one for Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger was coming off a stellar rookie campaign and Polamalu was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, and his first-time selection as a First Team All-Pro. The team finished with an 11-5 record, making them the number six seed in the AFC Playoffs. The Steelers would advance all the way to Super Bowl XL, capitalizing on the opportunity to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10, winning the team’s fifth championship. This wouldn’t be the only title Roethlisberger and Polamalu would win together as they also won Super Bowl XLIII defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23, giving Pittsburgh a total of six championships.
In more recent times, the Steelers haven’t made a Super Bowl appearance, but they’ve still managed to remain competitive. This is in large part due to draft picks developing into stars. Most notably is reigning Defense Player of the Year, TJ Watt. Watt was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2017 with the 30th overall pick and has been the leader of the team’s defense for the past few years. Another large contributor to the team’s success is Diontae Johnson, a wide receiver taken in the third round in 2019 by Pittsburgh. Johnson has steadily improved, notching his first 1,000 receiving yard season in 2021 with 1,161 yards on 107 receptions. Last but certainly not least is the most recent first round pick Najee Harris, the 24th overall pick in 2021 by Pittsburgh. Harris made a huge impact for the Steelers in his rookie season, having 381 touches with zero fumbles, amassing 1,200 rushing yards. Harris was also selected to his first Pro Bowl as an alternate for Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Ultimately, although it’s been done, Pittsburgh is not likely to trade away draft picks because they understand and realize the value of youth in the league, and how the future is built on home grown talent.
Hopefully, the Steelers record of developing its draft talent into stars will continue to evolve in the years to come.
What do you think about the NFL Draft? Is it worth taking a chance on young players developing into stars? Would you trade picks to win now? Be sure to let us know down in the comments section below!
#SteelerNation
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Twitter: @MoneyTris10
Instagram: @moneytris10
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Steelers history with draft picks
When it comes to the NFL Draft, one pick can change the entirety of an organization. For Pittsburgh, that change began in 1969 when they selected “Mean” Joe Greene with the fourth overall pick. Before drafting Greene, the Steelers were at the bottom of league, viewed as a dismal franchise that wasn’t going to be competitive anytime soon. Greene’s arrival made an instant impact, as he won Defensive Rookie of the Year, quickly becoming the foundational piece to build the team around. Greene would later be the centerpiece of the legendary “Steel Curtain” defense, joining fellow 1969 draft mate L.C. Greenwood, as well as 1971 draftees Ernie Holmes and Dwight White. With these four picks over the course of two years, the Steelers became a dynasty, winning four Super Bowls in a six-year span. Even though Pittsburgh hasn’t been able to perfectly duplicate this level of excellence, that doesn’t mean the team has been unsuccessful.
“Mean” Joe Greene (#75) | SI.com
Fast forward to the 2003 season and the Steelers were looking to get back to being a top team in the championship hunt. They needed help on the defensive side of the ball and had a verbal agreement in place to sign the reigning Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson, a safety from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the deal seemingly in place, Pittsburgh began to focus on selecting a running back in the draft. However, the team’s plan would change as Jackson didn’t end up signing with the black and gold, but instead chose the Arizona Cardinals after being offered more money. After losing out on a top safety in free agency, the Steelers shifted tactics and searched for a safety in the draft. Their main target was Troy Polamalu out of the University of Southern California, the top prospect in the draft at the safety position. While he may have been the man they wanted, it didn’t seem likely that Polamalu would land in Pittsburgh, given that the team had just the 27th pick in the draft. Many believed that he would be selected by the San Diego Chargers with the number 15 pick as they too were in dire need of a safety to replace Rodney Harrison. San Diego didn’t select him, but instead traded down for two other players in later rounds. With their man still on the board, the Steelers made a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to move up to the 16th pick and draft Polamalu. He wasn’t a starter in his rookie season, but Polamalu did finish the 2003 season with 38 combined tackles, (30 solo), and four passes defended. Even though he would become known as the “premier safety of his era,” Polamalu couldn’t carry the team alone. They still needed aid on the offensive side of the ball. That’s where the 2004 draft comes in.
That 2004 NFL Draft class had many highly touted quarterbacks. At the time, it didn’t seem like it was a position of need, according to head coach Bill Cowher and GM Kevin Colbert. Their selection was going to be University Arkansas guard Shawn Andrews. Owner Dan Rooney thought otherwise and used the 11th pick to select quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say, and at the time, this move shocked many people, including Steeler Nation. As it turns out, Dan Rooney was right to draft Roethlisberger as he went undefeated 13–0 in the regular season, (14–1 including playoffs), as the starting quarterback after both Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox went down with injuries. His regular season performance won him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Pittsburgh was able to advance to the AFC Championship Game in 2004, before being defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Being on the cusp of the Super Bowl helped set the stage for the Steelers the following year.
2004 NFL Draft NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is seen after being selected 11th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2004 NFL Draft on April 24, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
The year 2005 was an important one for Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger was coming off a stellar rookie campaign and Polamalu was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, and his first-time selection as a First Team All-Pro. The team finished with an 11-5 record, making them the number six seed in the AFC Playoffs. The Steelers would advance all the way to Super Bowl XL, capitalizing on the opportunity to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10, winning the team’s fifth championship. This wouldn’t be the only title Roethlisberger and Polamalu would win together as they also won Super Bowl XLIII defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23, giving Pittsburgh a total of six championships.
In more recent times, the Steelers haven’t made a Super Bowl appearance, but they’ve still managed to remain competitive. This is in large part due to draft picks developing into stars. Most notably is reigning Defense Player of the Year, TJ Watt. Watt was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2017 with the 30th overall pick and has been the leader of the team’s defense for the past few years. Another large contributor to the team’s success is Diontae Johnson, a wide receiver taken in the third round in 2019 by Pittsburgh. Johnson has steadily improved, notching his first 1,000 receiving yard season in 2021 with 1,161 yards on 107 receptions. Last but certainly not least is the most recent first round pick Najee Harris, the 24th overall pick in 2021 by Pittsburgh. Harris made a huge impact for the Steelers in his rookie season, having 381 touches with zero fumbles, amassing 1,200 rushing yards. Harris was also selected to his first Pro Bowl as an alternate for Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Ultimately, although it’s been done, Pittsburgh is not likely to trade away draft picks because they understand and realize the value of youth in the league, and how the future is built on home grown talent.
Hopefully, the Steelers record of developing its draft talent into stars will continue to evolve in the years to come.
What do you think about the NFL Draft? Is it worth taking a chance on young players developing into stars? Would you trade picks to win now? Be sure to let us know down in the comments section below!
#SteelerNation
Follow me on social media
Twitter: @MoneyTris10
Instagram: @moneytris10
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
