Steelers Throwback Thursdays: The largest modern draft class for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Before the NFL officially gears up for the 2022-23 season, Steel City Underground will be taking fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us as we revisit these moments in our “Throwback Thursdays”.
The NFL Draft has evolved over the last century to accommodate various aspects of the league, such as size, free agency rules, and more. The 12-round draft went down to eight rounds in 1993, then down to seven rounds in 1994, and has remained at seven ever since.
Since then, the Steelers have not had many large drafts. As little as five players have been drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a single draft, but the largest draft class by the Pittsburgh Steelers was eleven.
In 1999, the Steelers selected eleven total players; one player in the first round, one in the second, three in the third, two in both the fourth and fifth rounds, and three in the seventh.
This class featured third-round pick Joey Porter (LB) and fourth round pick Aaron Smith (DE).
Troy Edwards (WR) was drafted 13th overall by the Steelers and played until 2005. Scott Shields (DB) only played one season (retired in 2000) in his short NFL career.
Porter was the first of the third-round picks, followed by Kris Farris (OT) who played until 2001. Amos Zereoue (RB) was the final third-round pick and played 84 games until retiring in 2005.
Smith came next before fifth-round tight end Jerame Tuman who played until 2008. Malcolm Johnson (WR) was the second pick in the fifth round and did not play very long, retiring in 2000.
The first of the seventh-round picks was Antonio Dingle (DT). Both he and their next pick, Chad Kelsay (LB), played less than a handful of games in 1999 before leaving the league.
The final pick of the 1999 NFL draft for the Steelers was Kris Brown (K), who played for a number of years in the NFL. He played eight seasons for the Steelers before moving to Miami, and then Arizona.
