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 7 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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7. Troy Polamalu (1st round, 2003, USC)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Steelers Hall of Honor
- 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year with 7 interceptions (TD)
- 3 other times finished in top 10 of voting for Player of the Year
- Had 7 interceptions in 2008
- 7th all-time in Steelers interceptions with 32
- 7th all-time in Steelers tackles (583)
- Intercepted Joe Flacco in 4th quarter of AFC Championship game and weaved through Baltimore defense for game-clinching 40-yard TD
- 8-time Pro Bowler
- Led NFL in tackles in the 2005 postseason
- NFL All-Decade Team 2000s
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, 18. Cam Heyward, 17. Rod Woodson, 16. LC Greenwood, 15. Alan Faneca, 14. TJ Watt, 13. Lynn Swann, 12. Hines Ward, 11. Jack Ham, 10. John Stallworth, 9. Jack Lambert, 8. Mel Blount
Steelers 8th best draft pick, Mel Blount
Coverage every day until the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh starting April 23.
