Steelers Drafting Dynasty

Today on Fox Sports, they're featuring an article "Best and Worst Draft Picks" where they analyze each team's best overall pick, best value pick and worst pick over their entire history. Barnwell's analysis of the Steelers:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Best overall pick: DB Rod Woodson, Round 1, Pick 10, 1987

The best draft pick by the team that laps the league on draft day. Really, only Dallas, Denver, and San Francisco have a claim on Pittsburgh's dominance in April, a competitive advantage without compare. They just don't miss. Ever. Of course, you can debate Woodson versus the great Steelers drafts of the 70's, but you can't blame Woodson for merely being a dominant player on a very good team as opposed to an excellent player on a dynasty. Eleven Pro Bowls, more than any other Steelers player, says a lot.

Best value pick: C Mike Webster, Round 5, Pick 125, 1974

It's your job to argue whether he was the best player taken in the '74 group (Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, and John Stallworth also went). While there's some doubt about the credentials of Swann and Stallworth, all to be said is that when you draft multiple Hall of Famers in a single season, you are pretty much splitting some very gorgeous hair when you decide who the best pick was.

Worst pick: T Jamain Stephens, Round 1, Pick 29, 1996

Stephens never caught on as a starter, leaving Pittsburgh after two seasons and playing three more in Cincinnati.

His analysis of the Skins:

Washington Redskins

Best overall pick: DB Darrell Green, Round 1, Pick 28, 1983

Will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2008; again, much like Slater, guys who spend forever playing for the team that drafted them are infinitely valuable and special for a variety of reasons.

Best value pick: QB Mark Rypien, Round 6, Pick 146, 1986

While Mark Schlereth was a little more valuable than Rypien, 45 percent of his career was with Denver, 45 percent was with Washington, and 10 percent will be as a cadaver.

Worst pick: T Andre Johnson, Round 1, Pick 30, 1997

Johnson never played for the Redskins, instead appearing in four games as a Lions player before vanishing. Here's a line of busted first-rounders: Desmond Howard (No. 4 overall), Tom Carter (No. 17), Heath Shuler (No. 3), Michael Westbrook (No. 4), and Johnson.