Best/Worst Colbert Pick All-Time

[DesertSteel]

What was the best and the worst Colbert pick of all time? I thought of this question when someone brought up the LS he drafted a few years back.

[st33lersguy]

Best pick: Ben. Won the franchise 2 Super Bowls. Also had no business being drafted where he was

Worst pick: Jarvis Jones. Set the defense back a few years and is one of the 1st round draft picks in Steelers history

[hawaiiansteeler]

worst -

off the top of my head:

1) Limas Sweed
2) Jarvis Jones
3) Artie Burns

[DesertSteel]

I’m thinking...

Best: Ben/Troy tie
Worst: Jarvis Jones

[hawaiiansteeler]

not sure we can give Colbert the credit for picking Ben.

Colbert and Cowher were going to pick Shawn Andrews if Dan Rooney hadn't stepped in to convince them to select Ben instead.

[ThorndikeFFA]

Best: Troy
Worst: Burns

[Mojouw]

Fred Gibson. Cedric Hume.

[pczach]

I hope I didn't miss anyone, but the best draft picks based on value in no particular order since 2000:

Plaxico Burress 1st round
Marvel Smith 2nd round
Clark Haggans 5th round
Troy Polamalu 1st round
Ike Taylor 4th round
Brett Keisel 7th round
Ben Roethlisberger 1st round
Lawrence Timmons 1st round
LaMarr Woodley 2nd round
William Gay 5th round
Casey Hampton 1st round
Kendrell Bell 2nd round
Chris Hope 3rd round
Larry Foote 4th round
Heath Miller 1st round
Santonio Holmes 1st round
Mike Wallace 3rd round
Keenan Lewis 3rd round
Antonio Brown 6th round
Maurkice Pouncey 1st round
Cam Heyward 1st round
David DeCastro 1st round
Kelvin Beachum 7th round
Le'Veon Bell 2nd round
Vince Williams 6th round
Stephon Tuitt 2nd round
Ryan Shazier 1st round
Javon Hargrave 3rd round
TJ Watt 1st round
JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd round
Bud Dupree 1st round
Martavis Bryant 4th round
Emmanuel Sanders 3rd round
Willie Colon 4th round
Chris Kemoeatu 6th round

A little early, but looking good:


Devin Bush 1st round
Diontae Johnson 3rd round
Cam Sutton 3rd round
Chase Claypool 2nd round
Alex Highsmith 3rd round
Keven Dotson 4th round

I just wanted to list all the players that I believe were and are quality players at an excellent value, even if they didn't spend most of their career with the Steelers.

[FrancoLambert]

Best: Troy

Worst: Jarvis Jones

[teegre]

Best: Jon Kuhn

Worst: Ben Roethlisberger

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

Best value: AB

Worst value: Jarvis Jones edges out Artie Burns and Xavier Rhodes was such an obvious Steelers type corner to pass on

[pczach]

Here's and article on this very subject through 2018.

https://wholeninesports.com/2019/04/15/kevin-colbert-steelers-draft-history/

[Born2Steel]

Best: I hope it has yet to happen but for this conversation, TP43.

Worst: Gerod Hollimon

[Hawkman]

Here's and article on this very subject through 2018.

https://wholeninesports.com/2019/04/15/kevin-colbert-steelers-draft-history/

They should just have named him Vernon Haynes. Even announcers couldn’t get Verron right. Spell check still wants to make it Vernon.

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I hope I didn't miss anyone, but the best draft picks based on value in no particular order since 2000:

Plaxico Burress 1st round
Marvel Smith 2nd round
Clark Haggans 5th round
Troy Polamalu 1st round
Ike Taylor 4th round
Brett Keisel 7th round
Ben Roethlisberger 1st round
Lawrence Timmons 1st round
LaMarr Woodley 2nd round
William Gay 5th round
Casey Hampton 1st round
Kendrell Bell 2nd round
Chris Hope 3rd round
Larry Foote 4th round
Heath Miller 1st round
Santonio Holmes 1st round
Mike Wallace 3rd round
Keenan Lewis 3rd round
Antonio Brown 6th round
Maurkice Pouncey 1st round
Cam Heyward 1st round
David DeCastro 1st round
Kelvin Beachum 7th round
Le'Veon Bell 2nd round
Vince Williams 6th round
Stephon Tuitt 2nd round
Ryan Shazier 1st round
Javon Hargrave 3rd round
TJ Watt 1st round
JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd round
Bud Dupree 1st round
Martavis Bryant 4th round
Emmanuel Sanders 3rd round
Willie Colon 4th round
Chris Kemoeatu 6th round

A little early, but looking good:


Devin Bush 1st round
Diontae Johnson 3rd round
Cam Sutton 3rd round
Chase Claypool 2nd round
Alex Highsmith 3rd round
Keven Dotson 4th round

I just wanted to list all the players that I believe were and are quality players at an excellent value, even if they didn't spend most of their career with the Steelers.

I don’t think I ever realized that Keisel was a 7th round pick. I’m so glad we had him. He is a Steelers through and through.

[W&M_Steeler]

not sure we can give Colbert the credit for picking Ben.

Colbert and Cowher were going to pick Shawn Andrews if Dan Rooney hadn't stepped in to convince them to select Ben instead.

What is the source for the Shawn Andrews story? I have seen this alleged before, but I don't think I've ever seen a source for it. Is it true, or is it just Steelers' fan lore?

Ben and Troy are the Colbert era's best picks. AB is honorable mention, but his departure soured it.

Jarvis and Burns are the worst picks- clear first-round busts that derailed the defensive rebuild (and I think cost the Steelers a real shot at a Super Bowl in the latter half of the 2010s). Alonzo Jackson, Senquez Golson, and Ziggy Hood are honorable mentions.

[86WARD]

Best was Antonio Brown
Worst was Jarvis Jones

[tube517]

What is the source for the Shawn Andrews story? I have seen this alleged before, but I don't think I've ever seen a source for it. Is it true, or is it just Steelers' fan lore?

Ben and Troy are the Colbert era's best picks. AB is honorable mention, but his departure soured it.

Jarvis and Burns are the worst picks- clear first-round busts that derailed the defensive rebuild (and I think cost the Steelers a real shot at a Super Bowl in the latter half of the 2010s). Alonzo Jackson, Senquez Golson, and Ziggy Hood are honorable mentions.



Dan Rooney himself wrote about it in his book

[Hawkman]

Best-Troy
Worst-Sweed

[pczach]

Best: Jon Kuhn

Worst: Ben Roethlisberger


Obviously....

[W&M_Steeler]

Dan Rooney himself wrote about it in his book

That's a pretty damn good source.

[Fire Goodell]

It’s Polamalu doo dooo doo doo

[86WARD]

Best was Antonio Brown
Worst was Jarvis Jones

Changing worst to Burns. It was just not necessary to take Burns in that spot. It was a reach for need and a player that wasn’t worth the spot to start with.

[pczach]

They should just have named him Vernon Haynes. Even announcers couldn’t get Verron right. Spell check still wants to make it Vernon.

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I don’t think I ever realized that Keisel was a 7th round pick. I’m so glad we had him. He is a Steelers through and through.



Keisel was a huge bargain and a terrific player for a long time here. He was a perfect fit here schematically and from a personality standpoint. Great dude, great teammate, great in the community.

A real homerun late in the draft.

[Hawkman]

I’m adding to my worst that most haven’t even thought about. Do to all the bitching and moaning that, this and every other Steelers chat board did, the organization decided to do something about the OL. In a three year period, they drafted in early rounds Gilbert, Pouncey, DeCastro,......and......wait for it......Mike Adams, right after DeCastro. He got benched, started, and benched again. He was so bad they brought Max back. He was out of the NFL in three years. Round 2 from OSU, you would think we would have the best OL. 2 first and 2 seconds on the OLine. Thank goodness Max was decent. I don’t blame that on Colbert.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Best: I hope it has yet to happen but for this conversation, TP43.

Worst: Gerod Hollimon

Oh, you have to be playin. Wasnt Holliman a 7th round pick or something? Sure, he sucked but with relative value I would say that Tony Hills in the 4th or Bruce Davis in the 3rd are worse. Maybe Dri Archer in the 3rd is worse than wherever they got Benny Snell at RB.

I still think it was Jarvis Jones as worse. I could see on tape he just hustled and was all effort, but no athleticism, even Gil Brandt trashed Jones. Artie Burns was all athleticism but no technique or discipline, although a lot of pundits had him highly ranked.

Trading up for Troy is a baller move.

[RunNGun]

Best picks
1. Ben
2. Troy

Worst picks
1. Jarvis Jones
2. Limas Sweed

Best steals
1. AB 6th rd.
2. Ike Taylor 4th rd.
3. Brett Kiesel 7th rd.

[tube517]

Best: Danny Sepulveda

Worst: The Flowering Branch at TE

Haley Special: Dri Archer, Baron Batch, Chris Rainey

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Best: Jon Kuhn

Worst: Ben Roethlisberger


Winner! 2 HOF'ers there

[steelcityboyz]

Best- TJ Troy Ben

Worst- Senquez Golson Jarvis Jones

[DesertSteel]

Best- TJ Troy Ben

Worst- Senquez Golson Jarvis Jones
I think Golson was more bad luck than bad pick.

[Born2Steel]

Oh, you have to be playin. Wasnt Holliman a 7th round pick or something? Sure, he sucked but with relative value I would say that Tony Hills in the 4th or Bruce Davis in the 3rd are worse. Maybe Dri Archer in the 3rd is worse than wherever they got Benny Snell at RB.

I still think it was Jarvis Jones as worse. I could see on tape he just hustled and was all effort, but no athleticism, even Gil Brandt trashed Jones. Artie Burns was all athleticism but no technique or discipline, although a lot of pundits had him highly ranked.

Trading up for Troy is a baller move.

I agree there are many picks that turned into worse picks. But those picks at least made sense when they got selected. Holliman was a wasted throwaway of a pick. Sort of like Colbert was surprised he had one more pick to make. Sort of like that longsnapper pick a couple drafts ago. What was his name....?

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I think Golson was more bad luck than bad pick.

Yep Golson just couldn't get through TC without a season ending injury. Bad luck, bad feet and ankles.

[W&M_Steeler]

Oh, you have to be playin. Wasnt Holliman a 7th round pick or something? Sure, he sucked but with relative value I would say that Tony Hills in the 4th or Bruce Davis in the 3rd are worse. Maybe Dri Archer in the 3rd is worse than wherever they got Benny Snell at RB.

I still think it was Jarvis Jones as worse. I could see on tape he just hustled and was all effort, but no athleticism, even Gil Brandt trashed Jones. Artie Burns was all athleticism but no technique or discipline, although a lot of pundits had him highly ranked.

Trading up for Troy is a baller move.

I thought for sure that you would list Alonzo Jackson as the worst Colbert pick... and I think that position would have been reasonable.

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I agree there are many picks that turned into worse picks. But those picks at least made sense when they got selected. Holliman was a wasted throwaway of a pick. Sort of like Colbert was surprised he had one more pick to make. Sort of like that longsnapper pick a couple drafts ago. What was his name....?

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Colin Holba. Not only did they take a Long Snapper that year, they took one who couldn't even win the job in camp! That was a terrible pick



Yep Golson just couldn't get through TC without a season ending injury. Bad luck, bad feet and ankles.

I am not sure Golson even made it through a single week of TC during his time here. He was always injured super early- he didn't last a single TC practice his first few years with the Steelers: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2017/7/31/16067916/senquez-golson-had-to-wonder-why-me-after-latest-injury-during-steelers-training-camp-nfl

Freakishly bad luck.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Zo Jackson was a 2nd round bust. I have to rank Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns ahead of him.

[Mojouw]

Zo Jackson had that look in his eye. Cowher said so.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Zo Jackson had that look in his eye. Cowher said so.

I actually read that Cowher liked him so much he wanted to take him in the first round but fortunately was talked out of it.

[Mojouw]

I actually read that Cowher liked him so much he wanted to take him in the first round but fortunately was talked out of it.

I’ve heard similar over the years. Cowher had a man crush on him for some reason or the other. It happens. That ones not likely on Colbert.

I guess the worst is Jarvis Jones and the best is AB.

[86WARD]

Best picks
1. Ben
2. Troy

Worst picks
1. Jarvis Jones
2. Limas Sweed

Best steals
1. AB 6th rd.
2. Ike Taylor 4th rd.
3. Brett Kiesel 7th rd.

I still argue if Limas Swede “college talent” is there in the second round, you take it every time. I’ve said it before, even knowing the outcome of that pick, I still make that pick again.

[teegre]

I still argue if Limas Swede “college talent” is there in the second round, you take it every time. I’ve said it before, even knowing the outcome of that pick, I still make that pick again.

I literally logged on to say the same thing. :lol:

Given 100 chances to make a different selection, I’d still pick Limas Sweed 100 times.

[EzraTank]

I hope I didn't miss anyone, but the best draft picks based on value in no particular order since 2000:


Clark Haggans 5th round
Ike Taylor 4th round
Brett Keisel 7th round
William Gay 5th round
Larry Foote 4th round
Antonio Brown 6th round
Vince Williams 6th round
Martavis Bryant 4th round
Emmanuel Sanders 3rd round
Willie Colon 4th round
Chris Kemoeatu 6th round



I'm with Pczach as well.

When you factor which round ... Antonio Brown in the 6th round by far was his best (if not luckiest). Saying Ben or Troy is easy but they were first rounders and supposed to be great.

As for worst Jarvis Jones, and Burns top the list. I would add Sweed but Sweed was a 2nd rounder the other two first rounds.

[Craic]

I have no idea how anyone can name Artie Burns as the worst. He was serviceable for a year or so and could at least participate at this level (although not perform). There are other picks who were much worse as others have noted. I'm not saying he was a good pick by any means, or even a mediocre pick. It was definitely bad, just not the worst.

[Dwinsgames]

Best: I hope it has yet to happen but for this conversation, TP43.

Worst: Gerod Hollimon

Hollimon , seriously he was a 7th round pick ( most never make the team ) plenty of 1st and second round guys full of hope and hype that never did jack shit but take a roster spot from a deserving warm body IMO

[teegre]

I have no idea how anyone can name Artie Burns as the worst. He was serviceable for a year or so and could at least participate at this level (although not perform). There are other picks who were much worse as others have noted. I'm not saying he was a good pick by any means, or even a mediocre pick. It was definitely bad, just not the worst.

I will always give Burns a pass. He should have returned to Miami for another year... but, his mom suddenly passed away, leaving him to take care of his two younger brothers. In turn, he entered the draft. I always have been and always will root for Artie Burns the person.

[RunNGun]

I still argue if Limas Swede “college talent” is there in the second round, you take it every time. I’ve said it before, even knowing the outcome of that pick, I still make that pick again.

I think everyone thought he was the steal of the draft when we got him. I was definitely one of those people. The guy had all the tools but he could never put it all together. One of the few WRs Colbert has missed on.

[RunNGun]

I will always give Burns a pass. He should have returned to Miami for another year... but, his mom suddenly passed away, leaving him to take care of his two younger brothers. In turn, he entered the draft. I always have been and always will root for Artie Burns the person.

Artie had some moments where you could definitely see why they took him in rd 1. He didn't like to tackle though and never developed any consistency. Ziggy Hood and Burns had similar careers, IMO. They were both solid contributors, but never lived up to expectations as a 1st round draft pick.

[Steeler-in-west]

The Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns picks set us back. We could’ve bolstered the o line.

I know this goes way back before the Colbert era but the decision to go with Gab Rivera over Marino in 83 has got to be our all time worst. Feel bad to say because Rivera might’ve become a good player if tragedy had not struck, but the Steelers got only one season out of him and lost out on possibly an 80’s Steelers dynasty or at least rivaling the Niners. Still hate thinking about it.

[EzraTank]

The Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns picks set us back. We could’ve bolstered the o line.

I know this goes way back before the Colbert era but the decision to go with Gab Rivera over Marino in 83 has got to be our all time worst. Feel bad to say because Rivera might’ve become a good player if tragedy had not struck, but the Steelers got only one season out of him and lost out on possibly an 80’s Steelers dynasty or at least rivaling the Niners. Still hate thinking about it.

Agreed. And remember free agency hit (with no cap) around 1987 which would have been Marino's 4th year. So we would have had all those years to build a team around him and easily could have won a few more SB's. Imagine Marino starting the 1995 Superbowl instead of Neil O'Donnell?

[86WARD]

not sure we can give Colbert the credit for picking Ben.

Colbert and Cowher were going to pick Shawn Andrews if Dan Rooney hadn't stepped in to convince them to select Ben instead.

According to Cowher’s book, this isn’t true. Both he and Colbert wanted Ben as long as they didn’t have to trade up for him. If he was there at 11, they were taking him. They admit that they needed a lineman more than a QB at that stage but with a potential franchise QB potentially being there, they would take him.

Sounds like this Shawn Andrews thing may have been a little out of context?

[DesertSteel]

According to Cowher’s book, this isn’t true. Both he and Colbert wanted Ben as long as they didn’t have to trade up for him. If he was there at 11, they were taking him. They admit that they needed a lineman more than a QB at that stage but with a potential franchise QB potentially being there, they would take him.

Sounds like this Shawn Andrews thing may have been a little out of context?

What would Cowher know about what he wanted?! (sarcasm)

[tube517]

According to Cowher’s book, this isn’t true. Both he and Colbert wanted Ben as long as they didn’t have to trade up for him. If he was there at 11, they were taking him. They admit that they needed a lineman more than a QB at that stage but with a potential franchise QB potentially being there, they would take him.

Sounds like this Shawn Andrews thing may have been a little out of context?

So, Cowher contradicts Dan Rooney? Maybe Colbert has to put out his own book lol. Rooney said he steered the conversation back to Roethlisberger after the Steelers were just about to draft Andrews.

https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/6043/big-ben-pick-returned-steelers-to-glory

[86WARD]

So, Cowher contradicts Dan Rooney? Maybe Colbert has to put out his own book lol. Rooney said he steered the conversation back to Roethlisberger after the Steelers were just about to draft Andrews.

https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/6043/big-ben-pick-returned-steelers-to-glory

I don’t know…maybe that fits into Cowhers story as well. I mean they were talking QB if Ben dropped to 11. Not trading up for one. Otherwise it seemed they were going to go O-Line. Maybe Rooney was talking about moving up for one? Seems like between the two (Cowher and Rooney) there is a little bit of the story that needs to be added in to give the full context of the story?

[teegre]

In OJ’s book, he swears that he didn’t kill his ex-wife…

[Dwinsgames]

Flip a damn coin they all sucked based on their pre draft hype and the draft capital spent ..I left out Sweed because many believed him to be a 1st round talent so taking him where we did seemed like a given , who could fault them

Alonzo Jackson ....

Ricardo Colclough

Senquez Golson

Bruce Davis

Dri Archer

Artie Burns

Jarvis Jones

Anthony Smith

Willie Reid

Fred Gibson

Scott Shields ( even though it was a year prior to Colbert worth mentioning )

[fansince'76]

I know this goes way back before the Colbert era but the decision to go with Gab Rivera over Marino in 83 has got to be our all time worst.

Going even further back, cutting Unitas was pretty bad too.

[86WARD]

Going even further back, cutting Unitas was pretty bad too.

Very underrated “worst move ever”. Kept Butch Marchibroda over him…

[tube517]

I don’t know…maybe that fits into Cowhers story as well. I mean they were talking QB if Ben dropped to 11. Not trading up for one. Otherwise it seemed they were going to go O-Line. Maybe Rooney was talking about moving up for one? Seems like between the two (Cowher and Rooney) there is a little bit of the story that needs to be added in to give the full context of the story?

Enter Kevin Colbert's book lol

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Going even further back, cutting Unitas was pretty bad too.

Steelers could have had Unitas and Marino. Oh well.

[Hawkman]

I think everyone on this board wanted to see Sweed be successful. He had everything but confidence. From my recollection, the greatest play that he made was when he de-cleated a secondary opponent. Hines was a big supporter of Sweed.

[86WARD]

I think everyone on this board wanted to see Sweed be successful. He had everything but confidence. From my recollection, the greatest play that he made was when he de-cleated a secondary opponent. Hines was a big supporter of Sweed.

I’ve said it a million times…presented with the same draft and the same situation, id draft Sweed every time!

[DesertSteel]

Steelers could have had Unitas and Marino. Oh well.
Not to mention trading Len Dawson!

[Fire Goodell]

I think everyone on this board wanted to see Sweed be successful. He had everything but confidence. From my recollection, the greatest play that he made was when he de-cleated a secondary opponent. Hines was a big supporter of Sweed.

I thought Corey Ivy was dead after that hit lol

[Hawkman]

[QUOTE=Fire Goodell;770613]I thought Corey Ivy was dead after that hit lol[/QUOTEn]

Thanks for name FG. Was Sweed a second round pick?

[86WARD]

[QUOTE=Fire Goodell;770613]I thought Corey Ivy was dead after that hit lol[/QUOTEn]

Thanks for name FG. Was Sweed a second round pick?

Yes.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210629/23ef8e751cceb3ff426882c56c34d455.jpg

The Mendenhall pick and the Davis pick made me sick that day…beyond sick…Cliff Avril was sitting pretty and they went Davis…

[tube517]

Not to mention trading Len Dawson!

Forgot about that as well. The pre-Noll Steelers were just sad.