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Pittsburgh Steelers: Top 5 draft picks from the 2010’s

By David Glancy

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 10: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a sack in the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field on November 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 10: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a sack in the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field on November 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 6: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown by jumping on the goal post during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 6, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 6: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown by jumping on the goal post during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 6, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

player. 403. Scouting Report. Central Michigan. Antonio Brown. Wide Receiver. 195. Pick Analysis

Antonio Brown, WR

The Pittsburgh Steelers struck gold twice in the 2010 NFL Draft after selecting future All-Pro Maurkice Pouncey 18th overall and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders 82nd overall in the third round. With their second selection in the sixth round, the Steelers would go on to take the dominant and controversial Antonio Brown at 195th overall.

While Brown did not make an immediate impact like Sanders, he would go on to become arguably the best receiver in the NFL over the past decade.

In his nine years with the Steelers, Brown would go on to lead the league in receptions and yards twice and led the league in receiving touchdowns during his final season in Pittsburgh. Brown finished second all-time in franchise history in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns behind Hines Ward despite playing 87 fewer games.

The Roethlisberger-Brown connection is arguably the greatest in franchise history and one of the best in NFL history.

Antonio Brown finished his nine-year career in Pittsburgh accounting for 837 receptions, 11,207 yards, and 74 touchdowns, making the Pro Bowl seven times and earning first-team All-Pro honors four times. After playing at an MVP level as a receiver, Brown was looking to go down as one of the all-time Pittsburgh Steeler greats.

Unfortunately, Antonio Brown caught up to Antonio Brown and boasted a controversy record as disturbingly impressive as his receiving stats. After a fallout with the team during the 2018 season, Brown demanded a trade and got his wish when he was shipped out to Oakland.

He would go on to create as much turmoil in Gruden’s locker room before being cut and signed by New England. Brown was again released after just one game due to his ongoing rape investigation and has been out of the league since.

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While Brown’s career in Pittsburgh came to a tumultuous end, the sixth-round selection of the Hall of Fame-caliber receiver should go down as one of the great draft picks in franchise history and of all-time.

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