11-time captain, 2nd in sacks Heyward 18th best Steelers draft pick

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In leading up to the first ever NFL Draft held in Pittsburgh, we take a look at the 50 best Steelers draft picks.

It’s a list that includes Pro Football Hall of Famers, Hall of Honor members, players drafted since 1969 that contributed to 43 winning seasons and six Super Bowl titles over that time.

Today is number 18 with a few ground rules-its only players drafted by the Steelers, the list does not include those who were drafted by someone else and starred with the Steelers. It also does not include undrafted players.

The rankings are based on what they’ve done with the Steelers and not what they may have done after leaving Pittsburgh. Those eligible for this list are players drafted starting with Chuck Noll’s first season.

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18. Cam Heyward (1^st round, 2011, Ohio State)

• Steelers all-time leader in tackles for loss (142)
• 2^nd in Steelers history in sacks (92)
• 2^nd in Steelers history in quarterback hits (208)
• 2^nd in Steelers history in games played (228)
• 7^th in Steelers history in passes defensed (64), next defensive lineman has 13
• 2^nd in Steelers history with 228 games played
• 10^th in Steelers history in tackles (477)
• 9 career forced fumbles, 2 interceptions
• 6 times All-Pro
• Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best defensive lineman in 2024 at age 35
• 4 times had multiple sack games in 2017

Previously mentioned—50. Larry Foote, 49. Willie Gay, 48. John Jackson, 47. Mike Merriweather, 46. Brett Keisel, 45. Deshea Townsend, 44. Robin Cole, 43. Tunch Ilkin, 42. Levon Kirkland, 41. Carnell Lake, 40. Darren Perry, 39. Ernie Holmes, 38. Larry Brown, 37. Louis Lipps, 36. Kordell Stewart, 35. Lawrence Timmons, 34. Dwayne Woodruff, 33. Jon Kolb, 32. LaMarr Woodley, 31. Jason Gildon, 30. David DeCastro, 29. LeVeon Bell, 28. Ike Taylor, 27. Aaron Smith, 26. Dwight White, 25. Joey Porter, 24. Mike Wagner, 23. Heath Miller, 22. Casey Hampton, 21. Greg Lloyd, 20. Maurkice Pouncey, 19. Dermontti Dawson

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