Looking back at the best, worst of Kevin Colbert's 22 years overseeing Steelers' draft | TribLIVE.com
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Looking back at the best, worst of Kevin Colbert's 22 years overseeing Steelers' draft

Joe Rutter
| Tuesday, April 26, 2022 4:51 p.m.
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert speak to the media during their annual pre draft new conference Monday, April 25, 2022 at Heinz Field.

Asking Kevin Colbert to pick his favorite draft class is like having him pick his favorite child.

And Colbert has 22 drafts on his resume compared to three kids that he and wife Janis have raised.

Colbert was asked to reminisce Monday at his final pre-draft news conference, and he politely demurred.

“Obviously, the ones that helped you win Super Bowls, but I can’t say which part of which one because different guys came out of different drafts,” Colbert said.

“Brett Keisel was a seventh-rounder, Heath Miller was a first. I can’t really say there’s a specific one. There are too many to look back on, and maybe there’s not enough to look back on, too, because coach (Mike Tomlin) and I are never going to be satisfied with what our results were or are to this point.

“I hope this one is the best one.”

The draft that Colbert will oversee Thursday through Saturday will be the final one of a career that began as a scout in 1984 and resulted in his hiring by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000. At 65, he has decided to step aside from his role as vice president and general manager to spend more time with his family.

Colbert is too modest to rank his best picks — and probably doesn’t need to be reminded of his worst — so we will do the work for him:

Three best first-rounders

Ben Roethlisberger, 2004: Dan Rooney made the final call to take Roethlisberger, but Colbert put in the scouting work to identify him as an elite passer. He’s the reason the Steelers added two more trophies to the Super Bowl collection.

Troy Polamalu, 2003: Colbert moved up 11 spots in a trade with Kansas City, giving up third-round and sixth-round picks, and selected Polamalu at No. 16. An eight-time Pro Bowl player and 2010 defensive player of the year, Polamalu was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

T.J. Watt, 2017: It’s unfathomable now that Watt lasted until the No. 30 pick. Colbert snagged the Wisconsin pass rusher who has totaled 72 career sacks and is the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Three worst first-rounders

Jarvis Jones, 2013: He was a full-time starter in just one of his four seasons with the Steelers. He totaled six career sacks and never played another game after entering free agency after the 2016 season.

Artie Burns, 2016: Like Jones, he was a one-year starter out of his four with the Steelers. He had four career interceptions with the Steelers and finished his tenure with them in 2019 as a special teams player.

Ziggy Hood, 2009: The year after they added a sixth Lombardi Trophy, the Steelers took the defensive lineman with the No. 32 pick. He spent half of his 10-year NFL career with the Steelers but never excelled as a pass-rushing defensive end.

Best second-rounders

Le’Veon Bell, 2013: Forget his messy exit and contract dispute. He exceeded 1,200 yards rushing in three of his five seasons with the Steelers and was a force as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

LaMarr Woodley, 2007: Before his career hit a wall, he was an elite pass rusher. He totaled 58 career sacks, all but one coming with the Steelers. And he had a three-year stretch in which he reached double figures each time.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, 2017: He edged Watt for rookie of the year in 2017 and was named team MVP a year later. He never repeated that level of production but totaled 323 catches, 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns in five seasons.

Worst second-rounders

Alonzo Jackson, 2003: After hitting the jackpot with Polamalu in the first round, the Steelers struck out in the second. In three NFL seasons, Jackson played in just 18 games — half with the Steelers — and he never registered a sack.

Senquez Golson, 2015: Golson never played a game in the NFL as injuries ended his career before it ever really started. He spent his first two seasons on injured reserve and was cut in his third camp.

Limas Sweed, 2008: In two seasons, he played in 20 games and caught just seven passes for 69 yards.

Late round steals

Antonio Brown, sixth round, 2010: Hard to do better than become a seven-time Pro Bowl, four-time first-team All-Pro selection no matter how checkered the latter stages of his career have gotten.

Brett Keisel, seventh round, 2002: Developed into an eight-year starter during a 13-year career that included 30 sacks and two Super Bowl titles.

Kelvin Beachum, seventh round, 2012: He’s still going strong as he approaches his 13th NFL season. He played both tackles spots and started 39 games in four years with the Steelers.


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