NFL scouts will tell you it takes from 3-5 years to truly judge a draft class. Some of Kevin Colbert’s best came early in his tenure as general manager, and they don’t include the years he selected future Hall of Famers Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu. While they played a huge role in the Steelers winning Super Bowls in 2005 and 2008, the depth of their classes weren’t great.

Getting a number of players that become starters and contribute in the same draft class is a better indicator of its overall success. Colbert’s 2002 class, for example, produced five players — Kendall Simmons, Antwaan Randle El, Chris Hope, Larry Foote and Brett Keisel — who were either starters or major contributors on Super Bowl teams.

Other Colbert classes have produced two or three stars. The 2007 class had Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. The 2010 class included Maurkice Pouncey and Antonio Brown. The 2014 class had Ryan Shazier, Stephon Tuitt and Martavis Bryant.

Someday soon, the 2017 draft class might be in the conversation as one of Colbert’s biggest successes.

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http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201811060117