PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Kenny Pickett became the 26th Pitt Panthers to be drafted in the first round. We compiled a list of the top five Pitt first-round draft picks of all time relative to their NFL careers.
What order or what names would you have on the list?
5. Darrelle Revis
Revis Island. He could be the first corner to go first ballot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since Deion Sanders in 2011. Revis impacted games and game plans. He was also physical and a good tackler. In 7 of his 11 seasons, the Aliquippa graduate was a Pro Bowler and teams wouldn't throw his way. He would finish with 29 career interceptions, but not indicative to the affect he had on offenses. Among his highlights-2011Wild Card round holding the Colts Reggie Wayne to 1 catch for 1 yard
4. Tony Dorsett
How many are in this category—NCAA National Champion, Heisman winner, Super Bowl Champion, NFL Rookie of the Year, AP NFL MVP. Dorsett retired as the second leading rusher in NFL history. Rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight of his first nine seasons, the only season the Hopewell graduate didn't, was the strike shortened year in 1982-he led the NFC with 745 yards.
3. Larry Fitzgerald
Second in NFL history with 1,432 receptions and 17,492 yards and maybe a better person also winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Fitzgerald help lead the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2008 with 30 receptions for 546 yards and seven touchdowns that postseason. He is the only player in the Super Bowl era to have a streak of four straight playoff games with 100+ yards and a TD catch. He was also named to the NFL All-2010s Team and an 11-time Pro Bowl selection.
2. Dan Marino
Retired as the NFL's all-time leading passer with 61,361 yards and held more than 40 NFL single-season and career records. In his second year in the league, Marino led the NFL eclipsing 5,000 passing yards, throwing for 48 touchdowns and led the league in touchdown percentage and yards per attempt. A Central Catholic graduate, Marino finished with 420 career touchdowns, voted to nine Pro Bowls and 23 times the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
1 Aaron Donald
The Penn Hills graduate finally got his first Super Bowl championship and at 30 years-old is on track to retire as potentially the greatest defensive player in NFL history. He's the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, eight-time Pro Bowler and seven times First-Team All-Pro. In 127 career games, Donald has 150 tackles for loss, 98 sacks and 226 quarterback hits. Named to the NFL All-2010s Team despite being drafted in 2014.
Four of the five played high school football in the WPIAL.
Let us know what your Top Five is.
