[ad_1]
The 2021 NFL Draft is three months away. Each week before the Draft, we’ll dive into an NFL Draft class starting with the 2004 Steelers NFL Draft. In doing so, every player selected by the Steelers will be highlighted on how their career in the NFL, or its lack, has taken shape. As we get to more recent years some will be combined, as many of those draft picks are still with the Steelers.
Part 2 of 15 will highlight the 2005 NFL Steelers Draft.
So let’s take a look at the eight players drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 NFL Draft:
Heath miller
Tight end, Virginia
Round 1
Choose 30
The 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers managed to go 15-1 and reach the AFC Championship game despite not having a tight end with double-digit receptions over the season. Writing at the bottom of the 2005 NFL Draft, the Steelers found their answer in tight end Heath Miller of Virginia. With 39 receptions and six touchdowns in his rookie season, Miller played 11 years in Pittsburgh and won two Pro Bowls. Two-time Super Bowl champion, Miller still holds the Steelers touchdown record with a tight end in one season with eight. Ben Roethlisberger’s safety net for most of his career, Miller retired after the 2015 season as arguably the greatest tight end in Steelers history with 49 career touchdowns and over 7,000 yards on reception.
Bryant mcfadden
Defensive back, Florida St.
2nd round
Choose 62
Bryant McFadden’s story is quite an interesting one when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After being drafted in the second round in 2005, McFadden played with the Steelers for four seasons where he started 18 games while appearing in 51. With seven interceptions in four years, one of which was returned for a touchdown, McFadden is gone. for Arizona. Cardinals following his rookie deal and the Steelers’ Super Bowl XLIII victory. Beginning each game wearing the Cardinals ‘uniform, McFadden was traded to Pittsburgh in the 2010 NFL Draft. The Cardinals acquired the Steelers’ fifth-round pick and drafted quarterback John Skelton while sending their sixth round selection and McFadden to Steel City. Interestingly, the Steelers selected Antonio Brown with that draft pick.
In two more years with the Steelers, McFadden started 17 games appearing in 29 and caught two more interceptions. McFadden was released after the 2011 NFL season which ended up being his last.
Trai Essex
Tackle, northwest
3rd round
Choose 93
Playing all points along the offensive line at some point in his career, Trey Essex served as a reserve lineman for the Steelers in his first four seasons. After the Steelers’ victory in Super Bowl XLIII, Essex landed the right guard job in 2009 and started all 16 games. In 2010, an early injury brought Essex in and out of the starting lineup before Ramon Foster eventually secured the position. On his last start of his NFL career, Essex replaced injured center Doug Legursky for a game at the end of the 2011 season. After failing to make the Steelers for the 2012 season, Essex played two games with the Colts. of Indianapolis to end his NFL career.
Fred gibson
Wide receiver, Georgia
Round 4
Pick 131
Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers have hit home runs drafting wide receivers, occasional hiccups still occur. Enter Fred Gibson, who failed to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster his rookie season after being drafted in the fourth round. Gibson spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins training team after failing in the Steelers. Signed by the Falcons in the next offseason, Gibson was released early during training camp after missing a team meeting. Gibson joined the St. Louis Rams soon after for their training camp, but did not make their 53-man roster. Instead, Gibson landed on the New York Giants practice squad but didn’t even last a week. The following spring, Gibson was drafted in the 10th round of the NBA D-league and played 45 games with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.
Rian wallace
Linebacker, Temple
Round 5
Pick 166
Playing just for the Steelers for two seasons, Rian Wallace has appeared in 16 games and made 11 tackles. A member of the Steelers Super Bowl XL team, Wallace appeared in both the 2005 playoff divisional and conference championship game, but not the Super Bowl itself. His career highlight was a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in Week 6 of the 2006 season against the Kansas City Chiefs, the first game Wallace has appeared in this season. With the Steelers leading 38-7 at the end of the fourth quarter, Wallace intercepted Chiefs quarterback Brody Croyle. After spending time with the Washington Redskins franchise in 2008, Wallace did not appear in a game. Wallace continued to play with the UFL New York Sentinels and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League.
Chris Kemoeatu
Guard, Utah
6th round
Pick 204
The second offensive lineman picked up by the Steelers in the 2005 draft, Kemoeatu was part of the 53-man roster as a rookie but never saw the field as he was inactive for all but one game. In 2006, Kemoeatu made two starts in three games. After appearing in 16 games without a start in 2007, Kemoeatu started left guard for the Steelers in every game of the 2008 season as well as the playoffs and Super Bowl XLIII. In all, Kemoeatu started 53 regular season games for the Steelers as well as seven more in the playoffs, two of which were Super Bowls. Kemoeatu was released after the 2011 NFL season which was his last in the NFL.
Shaun nua
Defensive end, BYU
Round 7
Pick 228
Failing to make the Steelers ‘roster as a rookie, Shaun Nua spent three seasons on the Steelers’ practice squad. Signing a reserve / future contract with the Buffalo Bills after the 2007 season, Nua did not make the team and was out of the NFL without ever appearing in a regular season game. Nua immediately embarked on a career as a college coach where he is currently a defensive line coach at the University of Michigan.
Noah herron
Running Back, Northwestern
Round 7
Pick 244
During his rookie year, Noah Herron was initially part of the Steelers’ 53-man roster and featured in their first two games of the season where he had three rushing attempts for 2 yards. Demoted to the practice squad, Herron was signed by the Green Bay Packers in the 2005 season where he appeared in five games where he rushed for 121 yards on 45 attempts and had two touchdowns in the ground. Herron also played for the Packers in 2006 where he appeared in all 16 games and rushed for 150 yards on 37 carries and one touchdown while adding 211 receiving yards on 29 receptions and two more touchdowns. Herron landed on the reserve / injured roster just before the 2007 season and missed all year. Failing to make the Packers squad in 2008, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in November but was released less than a month later. After being briefly signed in the offseason by the New York Jets, Herron ended up in training camp with the Cleveland Browns, but did not make the final roster. Instead, Herron landed with the UFL’s New York Sentinels and Hartford Colonials.
[ad_2]
Source link