Last week, we added to our three-part series looking at Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert and his best draft picks from each day of the draft during his tenure with the team. If you missed our article last week, go back and see who we ranked as Colbert's top three second day draft picks over the past 20+ seasons.
This week, we are diving into Colbert's day three draft picks which encompass the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds of the NFL Draft. Once again, I am basing my list off the success the guys had just with the Steelers, so their career success with another team is not taken into account.
With that being said, here are my top three picks from Colbert during his time as general manager of the Steelers:
3) Ike Taylor
Taylor was a fourth round pick by Colbert in the 2003 NFL Draft. Unlike most secondary picks by Colbert over his career, Taylor made a lasting impact in Pittsburgh for over a decade. Even though Taylor was never recognized with All-Pro selections or Pro Bowls, he was easily the best cornerback Colbert ever drafted. Taylor was a starting corner for the Steelers for nine years and ended up playing 12 years in total before retiring. Taylor collected 14 interceptions over his 12 year career and had 134 pass deflections.
Photo via Don Wright / Associated Press
Taylor was synonymous with success during his entire career in Pittsburgh. He played in 14 playoff games for the Steelers over his career, had 3 postseason interceptions and 11 pass deflections. Taylor was a part of two Super Bowl winning teams during his time with the Steelers and was a huge part in a secondary that led the Steelers to great success during the 2000's.
2) Brett Keisel
Perhaps Colbert's best bargain pick during his time in Pittsburgh was Keisel in the seventh round at pick 242. Essentially one of the last players to be drafted in 2002, Keisel went on to have an outstanding 13 year career with the Steelers in which he played 156 games. Keisel was a cornerstone on a defensive line that dominated for over a decade throughout the 2000's. He registered 30 sacks in his illustrious career, also adding 408 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles and 9 fumble recoveries. Keisel made one Pro Bowl during his career.
Photo via Steelers.com
Keisel, like the aforementioned Taylor, was a huge player for the Steelers during their two championship runs in 2005 and 2008. Keisel played in 16 playoff games during his career and recorded 41 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Keisel clearly is the best seventh round pick Colbert ever made and could arguably be seen as one of the greatest seventh round picks in NFL history. Colbert really saw something in Keisel that no one else in the NFL saw and was rewarded handsomely.
Brown, a sixth round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, could be viewed as the best pick Colbert ever made during his Hall of Fame career. Brown, a standout at Central Michigan, was the second receiver the Steelers drafted in the 2010 draft, but quickly became a household name. After a year of minimal production and a lot of special teams play, Brown collected his first 1,000 yard season in his sophomore campaign in which he earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
Photo via Steph Chambers / Post-Gazette
After an injury plagued third season, Brown rattled off one of the most impressive 6-year runs in NFL history. Brown made 6 straight Pro Bowls, earned 5 All-Pro selections and collected at least 100 catches, 1,290 yards and 8 touchdowns. Brown was clearly the best receiver in the NFL over that span and was on a Hall of Fame projection until he left Pittsburgh and flamed out of the NFL. Brown ended up playing nine years in Pittsburgh and caught 837 balls for 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns. An incredible player during his prime, Brown clearly was Colbert's best day 3 pick over his 20 seasons as general manager.
Who did we miss on our list? Sound off in the comments below!
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