Steelers’ draft; can gold be found at 30th-overall for the black and bold?

With the 2017 NFL draft only a couple of days away, cover32 wanted to take a look at the past players selected with the 30th-overall pick. We went back 10 years to see if there were any stand-outs or flops.

In the past 10 years, five offensive and five defensive players have been selected 30th-overall. In the last four years, the 30th-overall picks have all been on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally, six out of 10 are still playing in the league.

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Steelers’ 20 prospects in 20 days: Pitt tight end, Scott Orndoff/Jackson State DE or LB, Javancy Jones /Villanova DE, Tanoh Kpassagnon/Colorado S, Tedric Thompson/Syracuse WR, Amba Etta-Tawo/Tennessee QB, Joshua Dobbs/California QB, Davis Webb/UConn S, Obi Melifonwu/A&M WR, Josh Reynolds/A pair of Fighting Illini/WVU CB, Rasul Douglas/NC State S, Josh Jones/YSU DE or LB, Derek Rivers/Ole Miss DT, D.J. Jones

Who will be added to this list? We will find out this Thursday.

2016

Panthers selected defensive tackle, Vernon Butler from Louisiana Tech

Vernon Butler was the highest Louisiana Tech Bulldog selected since Troy Edwards in 1999. Butler was a role player for the Panthers last season by picking up 1.5 sacks in his rookie-season.

2015

Packers selected defensive back, Damarious Randall from ASU

Randall was the first defensive back from Arizona State to be picked in the first-round since 2001, when Adam Archuleta was selected. In Randall’s rookie season, he played in 15 games with nine starts; playing both left and right corner as-well-as in the slot. With only two years of play, Randall has totaled 97 tackles, six interceptions, 23 passes defensed; adding one touchdown.

2014

49ers selected strong safety, Jimmie Ward from Northern Illinois

Ward was a safety in college but changed to nickel corner when he was drafted by the 49ers. Ward battled injuries in his rookie year only playing in eight games. In 2015, Ward played in all 16 games and starting in 8 of them. When healthy Ward has been a starter but in 2016 Ward missed 5 games battling quad and shoulder injuries. In Ward’s first three years, he has totaled two interceptions, one touchdown; adding 130 combined tackles.

2013

Rams selected linebacker, Alec Ogletree from Georgia

Ogletree was a day-one starter for the St. Louis Rams. Recording over 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons. In the 2015 season Ogletree suffered a broken fibula and was only able to play four games that season. Ogletree returned to form in the 2016 season for the newly located Rams, recording 136 combined tackles. This offseason, Ogletree had his fifth-year option picked up by the Los Angeles Rams.

2012

49ers selected wide receiver, A.J. Jenkins from Illinois

A.J. Jenkins rookie year was a frustrating one as he was a healthy scratch for 13 of the 16 regular season games. He finished his rookie year with only one target and one drop. Jenkins was traded to the Chiefs in 2013 for Jon Baldwin. He played sparingly before he was released in 2014. Jenkins got his final shot in 2015 with the Dallas Cowboys but was released before the regular season.

2011

Jets selected defensive tackle, Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple

Wilkerson has been a dominant defensive tackle in his first six years in the NFL. Over that six year stretch, Wilkerson has tallied 41 sacks. Wilkerson recorded his first career sack against Luke McCown, as a Jacksonville Jaguar, in the end zone for a safety. Wilkerson was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016 but was unable to play due to a fractured right fibula. In the 2016 offseason, Wilkerson signed a five-year-deal worth $86 million featuring $53 million guaranteed and a $15 million signing bonus.

2010

Lions selected running back, Jahvid Best from California

Best was selected by the Lions in the first-round after the NFC North division rival Minnesota Vikings partnered with their enemy to move out of the first. The former Golden Bear started 15 games in his rookie-year but was limited due to turf toe. Best’s career was short-lived after he suffered numerous concussions in a short time frame. He totaled 774 yards and three touchdowns in his two-year career.

2009

Titans selected wide receiver, Kenny Britt from Rutgers

Kenny Britt was Rutgers’ first ever first-round pick. Britt first NFL game was against Steelers were he caught 4 passes for 85 yards, in a 13–10 loss. Britt has been a journeyman spending time with the Titans, Rams and now the Cleveland Browns. In Britts career he has totaled 308 receptions, 4,881 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns. This offseason, Britt signed a four-year, $32.5 million contract with the Steelers’ division rival, the Cleveland Browns.

2008

Jets selected tight end, Dustin Keller from Purdue

Keller made his name at the 2008 NFL combine where he dominated. In the seven events Keller finished first in four and second in two. Keller’s first year was alongside veteran quarterback Brett Favre. Keller finished his first two seasons with 93 receptions, 1,057 yards, and five touchdowns. In 2010 and 2011, Keller lead the Jets in receptions but his 2012 season was shortened due to injuries. In 2013 Keller signed with the Dolphins but had a career ending knee injury tearing his ACL, MCL, PCL, and also a dislocated knee.

2007

Chargers selected wide receiver, Craig Davis from Louisiana State

Craig “Buster” Davis struggled to see playing time his rookie year. In the 2008 season Davis only played in four games before being injured. in. His career never fully recovered and he finished his career with 20 receptions for 188 yards and one touchdown.

BONUS

2006

Colts selected running back, Joseph Addai from Louisiana State

Addai jumped out to a fast start; recording over 1,000 yards in his first-two seasons. The 2007 season ended with Addai being selected to the pro bowl. Addai was in the NFL for six years and finished his career with 4,453 total yards, 39 touchdowns and one Super Bowl Trophy in Super Bowl XLI. A similar outcome is what the Steelers’ brass most assuredly would love to see.

Finish

This list will get a new addition on Thursday, April 27. If the Steelers stay where they are slotted then it will be a player who will wear the black and gold. Draft week is finally upon us and the cover32 writers can hardly contain ourselves.

Scott Menk writes about the Steelers for cover32 and is more excited about the draft than my sister marrying some guy(sorry) this weekend. Who does that? Scott can be followed on Twitter @SGMENK.

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