The first franchise to win six Super Bowls has lots of success in the first round of the NFL draft. That wasn’t always the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s a proud franchise that was born in 1933 and formerly known as the Pirates. The Pittsburgh Steelers overcame nearly 40 years of ineptitude to become the most successful NFL team since the merger. And over the last half-century plus, the hits certainly outweigh the misses.
Here’s a look at how well the team has drafted in the first round under the Common Era, which began in 1967. There is a slew of Hall of Fame performers.
Pittsburgh Steelers top 10 first-round picks in franchise history
10. C Maurkice Pouncey (2010)
The Steelers have enjoyed quite the legacy when it comes to the center position. Mike Webster was a fifth-round pick in 1974 (Wisconsin) and was part of four Super Bowl championship teams. He wound up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dermontti Dawson was a second-round selection in 1988 (Kentucky). He also has a bust in Canton, Ohio.
Could Maurkice Pouncey soon follow this pair of performers into the Hall? The 18th overall pick in 2010 was on the field for 10 seasons (missing 2015). He also missed all but one game in 2013. His other nine campaigns resulted in Pro Bowl invitations, and he was named All-Pro in 2011 and ’14.
9. DE Cameron Heyward (2011)
He is one of two active players on this list and this interior defensive presence has seemingly gotten better with age. Cameron Heyward was the next-to-last pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, a couple of months after the Steelers appeared in Super Bowl XLV. He played in every game for the team in each of his first five seasons. He was limited to seven contests in 2016. Heyward amassed 25.0 sacks in those half-dozen seasons.
The former Ohio State product has been a beast ever since. He’s rolled up 53.5 QB traps and seven takeaways. The one-time Buckeye has been named to six consecutive Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro accolades three times.
8. OLB T.J. Watt (2017)
University of Wisconsin defender T.J. Watt was chosen with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. There were certainly some expectations considering he is the younger brother of now-retired superstar and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. So far so good for the six-year pro, who comes off an injury-plagued season in which he managed career lows in games played (10) and sacks (5.5).
Still, Watt has been outstanding during his brief career. He’s already amassed 77.5 sacks and 23 forced fumbles in only 87 regular-season contests. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
7. DB Rod Woodson (1987)
Another Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Steelers used the 10th overall pick in 1987 to grab Purdue University defensive back Rod Woodson. He was a standout on punt and kickoff returns his first two seasons and collected 10 takeaways along the way. The ball-hawking defender would be named to six straight Pro Bowls starting in 1989 and earned All-Pro accolades five times.
In 10 seasons with the Steelers, he picked off 38 passes, five returned for TDs. Woodson would go on to play for the 49ers, Ravens, and Raiders. He ranks third in NFL history with 71 picks, and his 12 interception returns for touchdowns remain an NFL record.