Across eras, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the NFL’s most routinely successful franchises, and the team’s ability to develop and maximize first-round picks is a big reason why. Take a glimpse into the Steelers’ NFL Draft history in Round 1, and see why they’ve been so consistent on the professional stage.
Pittsburgh Steelers First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
Two things are readily apparent when surveying the Steelers’ history of first-round picks. First off, they take their swings. Since 1968, Pittsburgh has only missed Round 1 once — in 2020, when they traded for Dolphins’ All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. And second, the Steelers know how to identify and build up talent.
Since the franchise’s very first draft showing, the Steelers have selected nine future Hall of Famers with their first-round selections. From 1969 to 1974 alone, Pittsburgh added Mean Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann.
Pittsburgh’s modern draft history has been just as strong. Around half of Pittsburgh’s Round 1 selections since the turn of the century have earned Pro Bowl honors. T.J. Watt, David DeCastro, Cameron Heyward, and Maurkice Pouncey have all fielded All-Pro honors more than once and are all potential Hall of Fame candidates in the future, along with two-time Super Bowl-winning QB Ben Roethlisberger.
2024
- Troy Fautanu | Pick 20
OT, Washington
2023
- Broderick Jones | Pick 14
OT, Georgia
2022
- Kenny Pickett | Pick 20
QB, Pittsburgh
2021
- Najee Harris | Pick 24
RB, Alabama
2020
The Steelers traded away their 18th pick to the Miami Dolphins.
2019
- Devin Bush Jr. | Pick 10
LB, Michigan
2018
- Terrell Edmunds | Pick 28
S, Virginia Tech
2017
- T.J. Watt | Pick 30
OLB, Wisconsin
2016
- Artie Burns | Pick 25
CB, Miami (FL)
2015
- Bud Dupree | Pick 22
OLB, Kentucky
2014
- Ryan Shazier | Pick 15
LB, Ohio State
2013
- Jarvis Jones | Pick 17
LB, Georgia
2012
- David DeCastro | Pick 24
G, Stanford
2011
- Cameron Heyward | Pick 31
DE, Ohio State
2010
- Maurkice Pouncey | Pick 18
C, Florida
2009
- Evander Hood | Pick 32
DE, Missouri
2008
- Rashard Mendenhall | Pick 23
RB, Illinois
2007
- Lawrence Timmons | Pick 15
LB, Florida State
2006
- Santonio Holmes | Pick 25
WR, Ohio State
2005
- Heath Miller | Pick 30
TE, Virginia
2004
- Ben Roethlisberger | Pick 11
QB, Miami (OH)
2003
- Troy Polamalu* | Pick 16
DB, USC
2002
- Kendall Simmons | Pick 30
G, Auburn
2001
- Casey Hampton | Pick 19
NT, Texas
2000
- Plaxico Burress | Pick 8
WR, Michigan State
1999
- Troy Edwards | Pick 13
WR, Louisiana Tech
1998
- Alan Faneca* | Pick 26
G, LSU
1997
- Chad Scott | Pick 24
DB, Maryland
1996
- Jamain Stephens | Pick 29
OT, North Carolina A&T
1995
- Mark Bruener | Pick 27
TE, Washington
1994
- Charles Johnson | Pick 17
WR, Colorado
1993
- Deon Figures | Pick 23
DB, Colorado
1992
- Leon Searcy | Pick 11
OT, Miami (FL)
1991
- Huey Richardson | Pick 15
LB, Florida
1990
- Eric Green | Pick 21
TE, Liberty
1989
- Tim Worley | Pick 7
RB, Georgia
1989
- Tom Ricketts | Pick 24
G, Pittsburgh
1988
- Aaron Jones | Pick 18
DE, Eastern Kentucky
1987
- Rod Woodson* | Pick 10
DB, Purdue
1986
- John Rienstra | Pick 9
G, Temple
1985
- Darryl Sims | Pick 20
DE, Wisconsin
1984
- Louis Lipps | Pick 23
WR, Southern Miss
1983
- Gabe Rivera | Pick 21
NT, Texas Tech
1982
- Walter Abercrombie | Pick 12
RB, Baylor
1981
- Keith Gary | Pick 17
DE, Oklahoma
1980
- Mark Malone | Pick 28
QB, Arizona State
1979
- Greg Hawthorne | Pick 28
RB, Baylor
1978
- Ron Johnson | Pick 22
DB, Eastern Michigan
1977
- Robin Cole | Pick 21
LB, New Mexico
1976
- Bennie Cunningham | Pick 28
TE, Clemson
1975
- Dave Brown | Pick 26
DB, Michigan
1974
- Lynn Swann* | Pick 21
WR, USC
1973
- J.T. Thomas | Pick 24
DB, Florida State
1972
- Franco Harris* | Pick 13
RB, Penn State
1971
- Frank Lewis | Pick 8
WR, Grambling State
1970
- Terry Bradshaw* | Pick 1
QB, Louisiana Tech
1969
- Joe Greene* | Pick 4
DT, North Texas
1968
- Mike Taylor | Pick 10
OT, USC
1967
The Steelers traded away their ninth pick to the Green Bay Packers.
1966
- Dick Leftridge | Pick 3
FB, West Virginia
1965
The Steelers traded away their third pick to the Chicago Bears.
1964
- Paul Martha | Pick 10
DB, Pittsburgh
1963
The Steelers traded away their 11th pick to the Chicago Bears.
1962
- Bob Ferguson | Pick 5
FB, Ohio State
1961
The Steelers traded away their sixth pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
1960
- Jack Spikes | Pick 6
FB, TCU
1959
The Steelers traded away their eighth pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
1958
The Steelers traded away their eighth pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
1957
- Len Dawson* | Pick 5
QB, Purdue
1956
- Gary Glick | Pick 1
DB, Colorado State
1956
- Art Davis | Pick 5
DB, Mississippi State
1955
- Frank Varrichione | Pick 6
OT, Notre Dame
1954
- Johnny Lattner | Pick 7
HB, Notre Dame
1953
- Ted Marchibroda | Pick 5
QB, Detroit Mercy
1952
- Ed Modzelewski | Pick 6
FB, Maryland
1951
- Butch Avinger | Pick 9
FB, Alabama
1950
- Lynn Chandnois | Pick 8
HB, Michigan State
1949
- Bob Gage | Pick 6
DB, Clemson
1948
- Dan Edwards | Pick 9
DE, Georgia
1947
- Hub Bechtol | Pick 5
DE, Texas Tech
1946
- Felix (Doc) Blanchard | Pick 3
FB, Army
1945
- Paul Duhart | Pick 2
HB, Florida
1944
- Johnny Podesto | Pick 10
HB, St. Mary’s (CA)
1943
- Bill Daley | Pick 7
FB, Columbia
1942
- Bill Dudley* | Pick 1
HB, Virginia
1941
The Steelers traded away their third pick to the Chicago Bears.
1940
- Kay Eakin | Pick 3
HB, Arkansas
1939
The Steelers traded away their second pick to the Chicago Bears.
1938
- Whizzer White | Pick 4
HB, Colorado
1937
- Mike Basrak | Pick 5
C, Duquesne
1936
- Bill Shakespeare | Pick 3
HB, Notre Dame
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame