Steelers’ first-round picks are first-rate

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

First round. First class.

Successful drafts are a major reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers are going for their seventh Super Bowl title. They play the Green Bay Packers on Feb. 6 in Dallas.

This is a team that’s been built mostly through the draft, and its top picks always seem to work out. Eight of Pittsburgh’s last 10 first-round choices are still on the team and each is a starter. One of the two players no longer with the Steelers is wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who was MVP of the team’s 2009 Super Bowl victory over Arizona.

In order, the eight first-round picks are: Casey Hampton, Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, Heath Miller, Lawrence Timmons, Rashard Mendenhall, Ziggy Hood and Maurkice Pouncey.

Kevin Colbert is the team’s director of football operations. He’s the man responsible for the last 11 drafts, and he has quite an impressive track record. Colbert prefers to keep a low profile, so others have to sing his praises.

“You have to give credit to the people upstairs,” said nose tackle Chris Hoke, who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2001. “They do a great job evaluating. If there’s a questionable character about anybody, they’re not going to take him. They go after quality guys, guys with good character, guys they know are going to work hard. They do their due diligence and you have to credit that to their success.”

Colbert chose Hampton with the 19th overall pick in his second draft in 2001. Two years later, he made arguably the best move by any football executive in this century.

Colbert traded up from the 27th pick to No. 16 to select Polamalu, who only became one of the all-time great strong safeties. Polamalu is a six-time Pro Bowl pick, three-time All-Pro and a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors this season.

A year later, Roethlisberger was selected with the 11th overall pick. Two quarterbacks — Eli Manning and Philip Rivers — went ahead of Big Ben. He already has twice as many championship rings and is one win away from becoming just the fifth QB with three on his hand.

In 2008, Colbert took Mendenhall at No. 28, even though Willie Parker was coming off a 1,300-yard season. Mendenhall was the fourth running back chosen behind Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart and Felix Jones. Only Stewart has more yards rushing, but he’s played 10 more games. Mendenhall missed 12 games his rookie year because of a shoulder injury.

Plucking Pro Bowl-caliber players in the draft is a tough science. First-round picks that turn out to be busts can ruin careers among front-office staffers.

The Steelers rarely get to pick among the blue-chip, can’t-miss prospects in the top 5 or even the top 10. Roethlisberger and linebacker Lawrence Timmons — the 15th pick in the 2007 draft — are the only players chosen by Colbert in the top 15.