Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 worst draft picks of all-time
By Dani Bostick
Let’s take a look at the five worst draft picks in Pittsburgh Steelers history.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are arguably the best team in the NFL when it comes to drafting. Just last week, The Washington Post shared that same point of view, citing metrics used by Pro Football Focus.
When people think of draft busts, rarely do the Pittsburgh Steelers come to mind. Ones that do include the San Diego Chargers 1998 first-round draft pick Ryan Leaf, Oakland Raiders first-round draft pick JaMarcus Russell, and the Cleveland Browns (insert name of any drafted quarterback or Trent Richardson here).
Not all years resulted in four Hall of Fame inductees; the class of 1974– which included Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Jack Lambert– was an anomaly. Despite the Steelers success in the draft, they have had their share of disappointments.
The team has drafted plenty of mediocre players. Unlike some teams, however, they usually do not have entire draft classes comprised almost exclusively of busts. (Ahem, I’m talking about you, Cleveland Browns.) On the other hand, since the front office builds the team through the draft instead of free agency most years, a mediocre draft pick can have a huge impact on the team.
As the Steelers consider whether to fortify their flagging secondary with a first-round pick, or opt to bolster their front seven, let’s take a look at the worst Pittsburgh Steelers draft picks of all time.
Next: 5. Quarterback Mark Malone, Round 1, 1980