Top 5 Pittsburgh Steelers’ compensatory draft picks

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a compensatory draft pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Due to Javon Hargrave’s departure in the 2020 offseason, the Steelers have an additional 140 fourth-round pick to pick.

If the Steelers make their choice to this position on Draft Saturday, it will be the 35th compensatory selection in Steelers history. Starting with kicker Cole Ford in the 1995 seventh round as their first selection, the Steelers used their compensatory picks to add a number of players, some of whom were major contributors.

So who was the better player the Steelers have already selected with a pick-up draft pick? I give you my five best players as well as some honorable mentions of those who were selected with a pick-up draft.

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Honorable mention: Alex Highsmith, Mike Vrabel

I felt the urge to include Alex Highsmith on this list because his story has only just begun. Having to replace an injured Bud Dupree, Highsmith started five games of his rookie season in 2020 where he had one interception, one pass defended, 2.0 sacks, six quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and 48 tackles over the course of the regular season. Prepared for the starting position in 2021, we should know in the next season or two where Highsmith falls into that category.

The highest pick the Steelers ever made with a compensatory draft pick was Mike Vrabel as the third round pick in the 91st overall pick in 1997. Since the NFL only had thirty teams, Vrabel was the first pick. compensatory in this draft. Having never broken the starting lineup in his four years at Pittsburgh, Vrabel had 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 56 tackles in Pittsburgh. Where Vrabel really showed his worth was during his eight years in New England with two more years in Kansas City. Selected to both Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team in 2007, Vrabel has shown his worth in the NFL despite being buried on the depth chart in Pittsburgh.

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5: Vince Williams

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Not only was Vince Williams a high-value pick for the Steelers in the sixth round in 2013, he came at the end of the round as a compensating pick. Pushed into the starting roster of his rookie season due to an injury to Larry Foote, Williams only returned to the starting role in 2017. Appearing in 121 regular-season games and starting 69, Williams has 20.5 career sacks with two interceptions, one of which is returned for a touchdown. Williams also has five defenses, six fumble recoveries, 45 quarterback hits, 50 tackles for a loss and 479 combined tackles in the regular season.

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4: Kelvin Beachum

Selected as the 248th pick overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, Kelvin Beachum was the last of three compensatory draft picks the Steelers had in the seventh round that year. Filling his rookie season at various points on the offensive line, Beachum settled into the role of starting left tackle midway through the 2013 season. Starting every game at left tackle in 2014, Beachum’s final year in Pittsburgh. in 2015 was discontinued after six games due to a knee injury. Fortunately, Beachum’s contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars upon his departure led to the selection of the next player on that list.

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3: James Conner

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Even though fans sometimes remember the most recent production per player, James Conner was a Pro Bowl backer in 2018. Drafted with the 105th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Conner was a compensatory draft pick of third round for the Steelers. Missing at least two games each season of his four years at Pittsburgh, Conner is currently a free agent. During Conner’s tenure, he had 22 rushing touchdowns, including 12 in 2018. Conner has never crossed the thousand-yard mark in a season with the Steelers and has 2302 regular-season rushing yards on 532 carries. Conner also added four receiving touchdowns on 124 receptions for 963 yards.

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2: William Gay

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During 11 years in the NFL, William Gay was a 2007 fifth round draft pick and was the 170th overall pick. Playing 10 years in Pittsburgh with a year in Arizona stuck in the middle of his career, Gay intercepted 11 passes with the Steelers. Tied with Rod Woodson for most interceptions, he returned for a touchdown in franchise history with five, Gay started 86 regular season games and appeared in 160 in his time with the Steelers. In addition, Gay added a fumble return for a touchdown in the playoffs of the AFC championship game of the 2010 season.

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1: Hines district

The obvious pick for the best compensatory pick in Steelers history, Hines Ward was selected 92nd overall in the third round of the 1998 draft. Playing 14 seasons all with the Steelers, Ward has been called to the Pro Bowl four times in years. straight from 2001 to 2004. Finishing his career with exactly 1,000 regular season catches with 85 receiving touchdowns, Ward also added 88 playoff receptions with 10 touchdowns. . Ward leads the Steelers franchise receiving yards with 12,083 as well as receptions, touchdowns, and games played (217) and started (190) by a wide receiver.

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