Steelers Exec Admits: 'Had We Known' Antonio Brown Would Be Special, We'd Have Taken Him Higher

While the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't been the most successful lately, they were dominant in the 2000s and even parts of the 2010s. In the 2000s, they won two Super Bowls and appeared in three, also making four conference championships in the process. Many people can be given credit for the success of those teams, but perhaps none more than General Manager Kevin Colbert. Colbert set the team up with their stars, drafting Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Santonio Holmes in the first round to name a few. All three of those players were pivotal pieces to the franchise's glory, but Colbert's work on day three of the NFL Draft may be his most underappreciated. 

While Colbert had tons of success with his first-round picks, his later-round picks are what allowed the team to be successful. Over the course of their Super Bowl-winning years, players like Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor, and Chris Kemoeatu made huge impacts. He also drafted players on day three that may not have won Super Bowls in Pittsburgh, but had solid careers, such as Antonio Brown, Kelvin Beachum, and Vince Williams. With all of these late-round gems, Colbert was recently asked which one surprised him the most. 

The former GM recently appeared on 93.7 The Fan, where he talked about some of his finds in the later rounds. When asked which one shocked him the most, Colbert made a very selfless claim, perhaps not giving himself enough credit for his work.

"Yeah, you always got to go to the later-round guys because honestly, those guys proved us wrong. And when I say that, you know, when an Antonio Brown turns into a special, special wide receiver in the sixth round -- had we known that, we would have taken him higher," Colbert said. "Brett Keisel, you know, a seventh-rounder, who turned into a Pro Bowler. All credit to Brett because again, he proved us wrong. Had we known Brett was a Pro Bowl defensive lineman, we may have taken him higher." 

When they drafted Brown in 2010, they had no idea he would become one of, if not the greatest, wide receivers in franchise history. Brown had one of the most dominant primes in NFL history until off-the-field issues derailed a potential Hall of Fame career. Keisel wasn't as flashy, but he was a steady presence on a fierce defensive line and played a huge part in two historic defenses. 

The first- and second-round picks are obviously very important, but if teams can't find late-round gems, they won't be very successful. Current GM Omar Khan is still early in his tenure, but already has a good foundation of draft picks under his belt. Khan's first-round picks have been solid, but his late-round selections are beginning to get attention. Nick Herbig, Mason McCormick, and Spencer Anderson have played major roles in the team's recent success, each in their own way. 

Steelers Trending In The Right Direction

When the Steelers were successful in the 2000s and even in the 1970s, it was on the back of their own draft picks. Colbert did excellent work in the 2000s and most of the 2010s, but the end of his tenure left the team in a really bad spot. Now, with Khan having at least two really significant draft classes, it seems they are getting back on track with a winning formula. They are getting back to relying on homegrown guys, rather than free agent signings or trade acquisitions. 

Hopefully, Khan can keep up this streak of good draft classes. The 2025 draft class is still early in their careers, but there appear to be some promising pieces. Steeler Nation won't have a read on the 2026 draft class until the conclusion of the upcoming season when they will have a better idea of those players' development. 

#SteelerNation