Despite being one of the most consistent NFL franchises this century, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not had much luck over the past 10-15 years when it comes to hitting on first round draft picks. With the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, teams can learn from the successes and failures of previous drafts to make better choices moving forward. Based on their four first round picks in the 2020s, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of learning to do. Here is how the Steelers first round picks of the 2020s stack up.
Ranking the Steelers First Round Picks of the 2020s
1) Najee Harris
It is not a good thing for the Steelers that Najee Harris, widely considered a decent player but a bad pick, is Pittsburgh’s best first round draft pick this decade. While he had a productive first four seasons in Pittsburgh, eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards each year, Harris did not have his fifth-year option picked up and will likely be playing for a new team in 2025.
Harris is a much better player than his status of “bad first round pick” would lead one to believe. He has two very important qualities for a bell-cow running back; Harris rarely turns the ball over and is very durable. Over four seasons in Pittsburgh, Najee Harris never missed a game. He also fumbled just five times on 1,277 carries. While Harris won’t make plays that compose a fun highlight tape, he is a dependable running back.
Harris wasn’t a great draft pick, but he is clearly the best of the Steelers first round picks this decade.
2) Troy Fautanu
Another indicator of Pittsburgh’s terrible drafting over the last five years, offensive tackle Troy Fautanu comes in at number 2 despite only playing one game so far in his career. The Steelers 2024 first round pick, Fautanu played just one game as a rookie before missing the remainder of the season with a knee injury. In that one game, though, Fautanu played very well and looked like a quality foundational piece of the Steelers offensive line.
Pittsburgh wants Fautanu to develop into a franchise cornerstone because they passed up on multiple talented players when they selected him 20th overall. The two biggest weaknesses on the Steelers roster heading into the offseason are wide receiver and cornerback. Well, standout corners (and Super Bowl champions) Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were available when Pittsburgh picked Fautanu, as was sensational wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Given the potential he showed in his one appearance and the lack of quality competition, Fautanu is the second-best of the Steelers first round picks in the last five years.
3) Broderick Jones
Pittsburgh traded up three spots in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Broderick Jones 14th overall. Jones’ first two NFL seasons have been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. He started 11 games as a rookie and looked like he was on track to being a high-end player. Then, in his second season, Jones was mostly a disaster. Though he had a couple of good games late in the season, Jones spent most of the 2024 season getting beat off the edge and committing penalties.
Though he isn’t looking like a great pick so far, Jones has a chance to move up this list. First, Pittsburgh knew Jones was a bit of a project coming out of Georgia. He was a prospect with a lot of athletic potential but in need of some serious refining. Jones has also played out of his natural left tackle position so far in his career. In 2025, he is expected to move back over to the left side, with Fautanu slated to start at right tackle. He has struggled, but the door isn’t totally shut on Broderick Jones living up to his first round status.
4) Kenny Pickett
It’s partially not his fault, but Kenny Pickett is comfortably the Steelers worst first round pick this decade. As previously mentioned, teams should learn from their draft mistakes. With Pickett, Pittsburgh learned a few things. First, focus more on talent than need. Also, don’t let a good story get in the way of making a good football decision. The Steelers selected the local kid out of Pitt to help turn their franchise around, and they did not get the outcome they desired.
Pickett wasn’t put in a great situation, working under abysmal offensive coordinator Matt Canada and throwing to a subpar group of receivers. Still, Pickett showed a little bit of promise as a rookie. However, the writing was on the wall when Pickett regressed in his second season, despite playing in the same system with better (though still not great) weapons to throw to. He was ultimately traded to the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2024 season.
To rub salt in Pittsburgh’s wound, two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie was drafted directly after Pickett. Star offensive linemen Tyler Smith and Tyler Linderbaum were picked four and five picks after Pickett, too. Needless to say, the Steelers would be in a much better spot if they went a different direction in the 2022 draft.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – Imagn Images
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