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 40 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.
40. Darren Perry (8th round, 1992, Penn State)
· 9th in Steelers history with 32 career interceptions
· At 5’11”, 196 pounds, Perry played in 110 games, all starts
· Averaged 4.5 interceptions a season in his 7 years with the Steelers
· 3rd most tackles by a safety in Steelers history (448)-a reminder tackles weren’t an official stat since 1994, so his 1st 2 seasons weren’t counted
· Intercepted Warren Moon in his first NFL game and Ken O’Brien in his second
· Had a 3 interception game against the Browns and Vinny Testaverde in 1994—the final one at the Steelers 10-yard-line in a 7 point win
· 2nd Interception of Chris Chandler returned 13 yards for a touchdown and clinched win over Oilers in 1996
· Picked off Gus Ferrotte at Steelers 5-yard-line to help win 14-13 game over Washington
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
Coverage every day until the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh starting April 23.