3 biggest draft busts in Pittsburgh Steelers history

2. T Jamain Stephens

The Steelers were coming off an 11-5 season and an appearance in Super Bowl XXX. Bill Cowher’s club would add future Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis via a trade with the then-St. Louis Rams the weekend of the 1996 NFL Draft. The team was also looking to add some talent to its offensive front.

Pittsburgh opted for somewhat of a project in North Carolina A&T tackle Jamain Stephens. The defending AFC champions used the 29th pick in the first round that year to grab the converted defensive lineman. To say the 6-foot-6, 336-pound performer was a disappointment would be a major understatement.

Stephens did not play in 1996 and the developmental prospect appeared in eight games and made one start in 1997. He saw plenty of action in his third season (10 starts) but wore out his welcome. In late July of 1999, Pittsburgh released the former first-round pick after some questions about his conditioning.

“While there were several factors involved in Jamain’s release,” Cowher said in the statement released by the club (via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), “it was obvious he lacked the commitment to compete in this camp. I had no choice but to release him.”

Stephens finished his career with the rival Cincinnati Bengals, playing 14 games (4 clubs) for three seasons from 1999-2001.