The Steelers selected Southern Cal wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second round back in April. You have to take notice when Pittsburgh drafts a wideout. Maybe it's superior scouting, or maybe it's superior development, but they've been very good at producing quality players at the position.
Over the last 20 years, they've drafted 18 other wideouts in the first six rounds of the draft. (Debated cutting it off at three or four rounds, but didn't want to exclude their most impressive find, Antonio Brown.) By my count, about half of those players have proven to be pretty talented, capable guys. I'm saying eight out of 17, which includes calling Martavis Bryant a hit (it's not talent that has his career in question). The jury is still out on Sammie Coates, although things don't look great there. And too soon to say, of course, on Smith-Schuster.
| STEELERS WRS, 1998-2017 (FIRST SIX ROUNDS) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rd | Pk | Player | Hit/Miss? |
| 2017 | 2 | 62 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | ? |
| 2015 | 3 | 87 | Sammie Coates | ? |
| 2014 | 4 | 118 | Martavis Bryant | Hit |
| 2013 | 3 | 79 | Markus Wheaton | Miss |
| 2013 | 6 | 186 | Justin Brown | Miss |
| 2010 | 3 | 82 | Emmanuel Sanders | Hit |
| 2010 | 6 | 195 | Antonio Brown | Hit |
| 2009 | 3 | 84 | Mike Wallace | Hit |
| 2008 | 2 | 53 | Limas Sweed | Miss |
| 2006 | 1 | 25 | Santonio Holmes | Hit |
| 2006 | 3 | 95 | Willie Reid | Miss |
| 2005 | 4 | 131 | Fred Gibson | Miss |
| 2002 | 2 | 62 | Antwaan Randle El | Hit |
| 2002 | 6 | 202 | Lee Mays | Miss |
| 2000 | 1 | 8 | Plaxico Burress | Hit |
| 2000 | 4 | 103 | Danny Farmer | Miss |
| 1999 | 1 | 13 | Troy Edwards | Miss |
| 1999 | 5 | 166 | Malcolm Johnson | Miss |
| 1998 | 3 | 92 | Hines Ward | Hit |
--Andy Richardson