There’s a reason why the Steelers have a rich history, and part of that reason has been their ability to not only draft but develop first-round NFL Draft picks. Over the years, the Steelers have drafted nine future Hall of Famers in the first round, including four between 1969 and 1974. Additionally, the franchise had a first-round draft pick in the first round every year from 1968 to 2019.
Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft picks in history
Below is a list of all the Steelers’ first-round NFL Draft picks they’ve made throughout franchise history:
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
