If a team wants to be a consistent winner, doing well in the NFL draft is a top priority. First and second-round picks are typically the impact guys early and develop into the best players on the team. This fact is what makes the list of players below so frustrating.
From 2018 to 2022, Kevin Colbert was the Steelers general manager and based on these picks, it feels like he played a five-year prank on the franchise before leaving. Here is the rundown of the top two picks fro each of Colbert’s last five drafts.
- S Terrell Edmunds: 28th overall in 2018
- WR James Washington: 60th overall in 2018
- LB Devin Bush Jr.: 10th overall in 2019
- WR Chase Claypool: 49th overall in 2020
- RB Najee Harris: 21st overall in 2021
- TE Pat Freiermuth: 55th overall in 2021
- QB Kenny Pickett: 20th overall in 2022
- WR George Pickens: 52nd overall in 2022
We didn’t include 2023 or 2024 in this for a couple of reasons. First, those aren’t Colbert drafts and this is the point. Also, those draft classes are just too early to pass judgement on.
There’s a real possibility when the 2025 season starts, the only player on this list still on the Steelers roster is tight end Pat Freiermuth. Running back Najee Harris is about to hit free agency and we won’t be at all shocked if the Steelers trade troubled wide receiver George Pickens.
