Fansided

10 biggest what-ifs in NFL Draft history

By Russell S. Baxter

BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 2001: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during an NFL football game circa 2001 at PNINet Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Lewis played for the Ravens from 1996-2012 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 2001: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during an NFL football game circa 2001 at PNINet Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Lewis played for the Ravens from 1996-2012 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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CANTON, OHIO – AUGUST 07: Troy Polamalu, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class, right, poses with his presenter Dick LeBeau during the induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7, 2021 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane-Pool/Getty Images)
CANTON, OHIO – AUGUST 07: Troy Polamalu, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class, right, poses with his presenter Dick LeBeau during the induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7, 2021 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane-Pool/Getty Images) /

9. Chiefs don’t trade with the Steelers in first round (2003)

Bill Cowher’s Steelers were coming off a 10-5-1 season and an AFC North title. The team rallied to beat the Browns, 36-33, in the wild card playoffs, but fell to the Titans in overtime, 34-31, at Nashville in the divisional round.

The defense could certainly use some help, most notably in the secondary. The team was ranked 20th in the league against the pass in 2002 and was lit up in the playoffs by Cleveland’s Kelly Holcomb (429) and Tennessee’s Steve McNair (338) for a combined 767 passing yards and five scores through the air.

Pittsburgh owned the 27th overall pick in the first round in 2003. The club has traditionally stood pat when it came to their first-round picks, but it made a rare move upwards. They gave the Kansas City Chiefs that No. 27 selection, as well as third- and sixth-round picks, to move up to No. 16. The target was an athletic defensive back from USC in safety Troy Polamalu.

The rest is history. Polamalu was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. The eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and Super Bowl champion in 2005 and 2008. All because the organization and GM Kevin Colbert broke form 20 years ago.

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