Seventh round in NFL Draft of value to NFL teams, including Steelers

With the 2014 NFL Draft just days away, most fans are focusing the most on the top picks for their teams, including Pittsburgh Steelers fans.  Typically, little favor is given to the last round – the seventh – as the draft wears down.  Interestingly, the seventh round has produced players that have often raised to the ranks of stardom, which makes it as valuable to NFL teams as any other despite not garnering the most accolades.

Defensive end Brett Keisel was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. While Keisel has not been re- signed by the Steelers, he may yet return to the team despite general manager Kevin Colbert’s goal to put Cam Thomas in that spot on the starting roster in 2014.  Of note is that despite being selected in the seventh round, Keisel started 110 games for the Steelers and became a vocal veteran leader on the roster.  By re-signing Keisel before training camp, the vet could mentor Thomas to a new level at defensive end.

Other teams in the NFL have often found draft steals in the seventh round. Many of them have been from smaller schools in conferences outside of the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC.  Some have been underestimated or undervalued high producers from major colleges where another prospect was looked at more closely from amongst their college teammates.

Stevie Johnson emerged as a small school junior college transfer with one year at Kentucky before being taken by the Buffalo Bills in 2008.  Johnson was atypical for being a standout receiver in the NFL and didn’t post the highest speed at the combine (4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash).  Johnson offered up three 1,000 plus yards seasons for the Bills.

The Dallas Cowboys waited until the seventh round to find Jay Ratliff in 2005.  Ratliff, out of Auburn, didn’t even attend the NFL Scouting Combine, yet became a Pro Bowler at defensive tackle. The Cowboys, with a ton of picks this year in the seventh, will try to use the opportunity to cull players from productive programs to fill out their roster.

Linebacker Malcolm Smith may have gone undrafted in the 2011 draft if the Seattle Seahawks hadn’t selected him as time nearly ran out.  Smith became Super Bowl MVP for the Seahawks in their stunning win over the Denver Broncos in 2013.

The Steelers have just one pick in the seventh round in this year at 230th overall.  Some of the players who are expected to be late draft selections at positions Pittsburgh could bolster for depth include:

De’Anthony Thomas – RB/WR Oregon

Max Bullough – ILB Michigan State

Beau Allen – DT Wisconsin

Wesley Johnson – OL Vanderbilt

Jemea Thomas – CB Georgia Tech (projected slot corner)

Bradley Roby – CB Ohio State

Michael Sam – OLB Missouri

Allen Robinson –  WR Penn State

Tevin Reese – WR Baylor

Prince Shembo – OLB Notre Dame

The Steelers reportedly scouted at Auburn, Duke, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State,  Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt.

The Steelers visited with Beau Allen, Wesley Johnson (private workout), Allen Robinson (private workout), and Bradley Roby amongst others. It is likely they kept an eye on Bullough while at Michigan State and Shembo while at Notre Dame.

 

Note: Some Steelers selected in the 7th Round of previous NFL Drafts:

Nick Williams (DT – Samford, 2013); Kelvin Beachum (OL – SMU, 2012), Baron Batch (RB – Texas Tech, 2011); Doug Worthington (DT – Ohio State, 2010); David Johnson (TE – Arkansas St., 2009), Brett Keisel (DE – BYU, 2002); Kris Brown (kicker – Nebraska, 1999); Mike Adams (wide receiver – Texas, 1997); Carlos Emmons (LB – Arkansas State, 1996);

Prior to 1993, the NFL Draft included more rounds.  Here are some noteable Steelers players selected in later rounds between 1969 and 1992:

1992 Darren Perry (S – Penn State); 1990 Justin Strzelczk (OT – Maine) and Richard Bell (RB – Nebraska); 1989 David Johnson (CB – Kentucky); Jerry Olsavsky (LB – Pittsburgh) and Carlton Haselrig (NT – Pittsburgh/Johnstown); 1987 Merrill Hoge (RB – Idaho State); 1981 David Little (LB – Florida); 1973 Loren Toews (LB – California); 1972 Joe Gilliam (QB – Tennessee State); 1971 Ernie Holmes (DT – Texas Southern), Mike Wagner (DB – Western Illinois); 1969 L.C. Greenwood (DE – Arkansas AM&N), John Lynch (LB – Drake)

Hall of Famers selected in the 7th round of NFL Drafts between 1990 and 1953 (this does not include Hall of Fame players who were selected after the 7th round):

Shannon Sharpe (TE- Denver Broncos, 1990);  Rayfield Wright (T- Dallas Cowboys, 1967); Bob Hayes (WR- Dallas Cowboys/Denver Broncos (AFL), 1964);  Bobby Bell (LB – Dallas Texans (AFL)/ Minnesota Vikings (NFL); Larry Wilson (DB – St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)/Buffalo Bills (AFL); Bobby Mitchell (HB- Cleveland Browns, 1958); Gene Hickerson (G -Cleveland Browns, 1957); Joe Schmidt (LB – Detroit Lions, 1953) and Jim Ringo (C – Green Bay Packers, 1953)

(Sources: NFL Pro Hall of Fame Website and Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Draft History from Pro Football Reference)