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 8 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.
8. Mel Blount (3rd round, 1970, Southern)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Steelers Hall of Honor
- Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 after 11 interceptions
- Intercepted Fran Tarkenton pass late in 1st half, deep in Steelers territory preventing a Vikings score in Super Bowl IX
- Intercepted Roger Staubach pass late in 1st half, deep in Steelers territory in Super Bowl XIII, it led to a Steelers touchdown
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
- Rules changed because of how difficult it was to catch passes against Blount
- Pro Football Reference 1st Team All-70s and 1st Team All-80s
- Voted 9th best defensive back in NFL history by Pro Football Reference
- In 1975 had 6 straight games with an interception, 8 picks total
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
Jack Lambert 9th best Steelers draft pick since 1969
Coverage every day until the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh starting April 23.
Hall of Famer, 4-time champ, Defensive player of the Year
Hall of Famer, 4-time champ, Defensive player of the Year
