Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 worst draft picks of all-time

2. Wide Receiver Limas Sweed, Round 2, 2008

The Steelers have evolved into an offensive powerhouse. That sentence takes some getting used to since the Steel Curtain, the legendary defense of the 1970s, has defined the organization for some time with the grit and nasty associated with that era.

Wide receivers coach Richard Mann, hired in 2013, has developed Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, and Martavis Bryant into a powerful triple-threat that, along with Ben Roethlisberger, confounds opposing defenses across the NFL.

Back in 2008, however, the Steelers were not a Steeltown factory of wide receivers. So, in the second round of the 2008 draft, they made the fateful decision to draft Limas Sweed as their 53rd-overall pick. Sweed had much promise. Once rated the top receiver in college football who drew comparisons to Andre Johnson, Sweed was praised effusively by scouts who wrote of his strengths:

"Displays good toughness and leadership, working hard in practices and studying tapes to gain advantage over his opponents…Has that extra gear needed to gain advantage coming off the snap (when he doesn’t try to get into battles with the press defender)…Smooth into his routes and will get physical with the defender in route progression (feels every thrown ball is his)"

Wow. What wasn’t there to like? The Steelers probably were thinking along those lines when they drafted him, but were soon disappointed. Sweed played just two seasons in the NFL, both with the Steelers. He had seven receptions for 69 yards during his short career.

Next: 1. Defensive Tackle Darryl Sims, Round 1, 1985