During the first three-plus decades of their existence, the Pittsburgh Steelers were notoriously bad at this risky venture known as the nfl draft.
Here are 5 drafts of all time in franchise history.
No. 1: The 1974 Draft
There isn’t an adjective that can do this draft justice.
It is simply the greatest draft, by any team, in the history of professional football.
It’s hard enough for an organization to draft a Hall of Fame player once every decade. Try drafting four in the same year!
That’s exactly what Chuck Knoll and the Pittsburgh Steelers did.
The first round saw USC receiver Lynn Swann join the fold.
The second round brought LB Jack Lambert, one of the meanest, nastiest, players in nfl history, to the Black and Gold.
In the fourth round, Swann’s running mate, John Stallworth, was taken. That was followed by one of the biggest draft steals in history when center Mike Webster was grabbed in the fifth round.
Four Hall of Famers in one draft—amazing!
No. 2: The 1969 Draft
This was the draft that started it all for coach Chuck Noll and the Steeler dynasty in the 1970s.
Noll was just beginning his tenure as Pittsburgh’s coach and came away with one of the best drafts in NFL history.
In the first round, the Steelers chose DT “Mean Joe” Greene out of North Texas.
The Hall of Famer and NFL All-Time Team member changed the culture and history of losing that symbolized the Steelers teams of the past.
Greene brought the attitude, aggression, and leadership Noll needed to turn the franchise around. Together they remade the franchise, the city and the people who came to be known as the Steeler nation, into winners.
This draft wasn’t all Greene though.
In the third round, guard Jon Kolb, a stalwart of the dynasty, was drafted. DE L.C. Greenwood, a six-time All-Pro and member of the famed “Steel Curtain,” was taken in the sixth round.
Terry Hanratty, a capable quarterback, was chosen in the second round.
No. 3: The 1970 Draft
Most of Noll’s picks in the 1970 draft didn’t pan out, but the ones that did make this the third best draft in Steelers history.
Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw was a cocky, southern boy from Louisiana that Noll made the first overall selection in the draft.
After a slow start and plenty of boos from the tough Pittsburgh crowd, Bradshaw led the Steelers to four world championships in a six year span, winning Super Bowl MVP honors twice.
In the third round, Pittsburgh selected future Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount out of Southern University.
Blount became a starter in 1972 and was a fixture in the Steelers secondary, going to five Pro Bowls and being chosen for the NFL All-time Team.
WR Ron Shanklin was taken in the second round and was an All-Pro in 1973.
No. 4: The 1971 Draft
This draft was headed by Hall of Fame LB Jack Ham, who Noll grabbed in the second round.
But there was a lot more to this draft than just Ham.
DE Dwight White (fourth round) and DT Ernie Holmes (eighth round)—two members of the famed “Steel Curtain” were found in this draft
In addition, guard Gerry Mullins (fourth round), tackle Larry Brown (fifth round), and Safety Mike Wagner (11th round), became starters. Wagner was a two-time All-Pro selection.
The first round pick was WR Frank Lewis, who ended up being an All-Pro with Buffalo in 1974.
No. 5: The 1987 Draft
Chuck Noll and company hit another grand slam with this draft, picking up Hall of Fame corner Rod Woodson, and two linebackers who would go on to make 10 Pro Bowl appearances between them.
Woodson, a sure fire star from the get-go, was taken in the first round, but the later rounds proved to be kind to Pittsburgh as well.
LB Hardy Nickerson was a fifth-round selection; while LB Greg Lloyd, out of little Fort Valley State, was a sixth round steal.
Rounding out this excellent draft was future starters Thomas Everett (fourth round), Tim Johnson (sixth round), and Merril Hoge (10th round).
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Posted by joanna on Mar 08, 2010 | Leave a Comment
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