The NFL's inaugural draft – or as it was known back then, The Annual Selection Meeting – was held in 1936, and that means the Steelers have participated in 80 of these exercises so far. This series will look at the best of the all-time Steelers' draft picks, based on the round the players were selected.
Today's installment looks at the history of Round 6:
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1948 – JERRY SHIPKEY: A case can be made that Shipkey began the franchise's legacy of great linebacker play, because he was a two-time first-team All-Pro and was voted to play in the first three Pro Bowls, and he also played fullback on offense. In his four Steelers seasons, Shipkey scored 16 touchdowns on offense and accounted for 22 takeaways – 13 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries – on defense.
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2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
2010 Antonio Brown: Brown has established himself as the team's No. 1 receiver and one of the best in the NFL. Brown has four 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and one of his four Pro Bowl selections has been because of his return abilities. In his six seasons to date, Brown has 526 catches for 7,093 yards and 38 touchdown receptions. He also has four touchdowns on punt returns and another on kickoff returns.
1976 Gary Dunn: By the time the Steelers picked Gary Dunn, the original Steel Curtain was showing signs of rust, what with Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood both being seven-year veterans. Dunn, a defensive tackle and then a nose tackle when the Steelers switched to a 3-4, led the team in sacks in 1981 and tied for the lead in 1982, and he finished his career with 35.5. Two Super Bowl rings.
1976 Gary Dunn: By the time the Steelers picked Gary Dunn, the original Steel Curtain was showing signs of rust, what with Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood both being seven-year veterans. Dunn, a defensive tackle and then a nose tackle when the Steelers switched to a 3-4, led the team in sacks in 1981 and tied for the lead in 1982, and he finished his career with 35.5. Two Super Bowl rings.
1976 Gary Dunn: By the time the Steelers picked Gary Dunn, the original Steel Curtain was showing signs of rust, what with Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood both being seven-year veterans. Dunn, a defensive tackle and then a nose tackle when the Steelers switched to a 3-4, led the team in sacks in 1981 and tied for the lead in 1982, and he finished his career with 35.5. Two Super Bowl rings.
1982 Bryan Hinkle: Just because he never made the Pro Bowl, dont let that taint what was a very good 12-year career as an outside linebacker with the Steelers. In the eight-season span from 1984-91, Hinkle started 113 games and contributed 21.5 sacks and 26 takeaways, 15 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries, while scoring three defensive touchdowns.
1982 Bryan Hinkle: Just because he never made the Pro Bowl, dont let that taint what was a very good 12-year career as an outside linebacker with the Steelers. In the eight-season span from 1984-91, Hinkle started 113 games and contributed 21.5 sacks and 26 takeaways, 15 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries, while scoring three defensive touchdowns.
1980 Tunch Ilkin: A center when he was drafted out of Indiana State, Ilkin became a tackle because of the presence of Mike Webster in the starting lineup. A full-time starter by 1983, Ilkin played both left tackle and right tackle, and he finished with 143 starts during his 13 seasons with the Steelers. A two-time Pro Bowl selection.
1980 Tunch Ilkin: A center when he was drafted out of Indiana State, Ilkin became a tackle because of the presence of Mike Webster in the starting lineup. A full-time starter by 1983, Ilkin played both left tackle and right tackle, and he finished with 143 starts during his 13 seasons with the Steelers. A two-time Pro Bowl selection.
1987 Greg Lloyd: In the course of franchise history, there have been players who personified the attitude that is Steelers football. Greg Lloyd was one of those players. During his career here as an outside linebacker, Lloyd played in 131 games and started 125, and in those he recorded 53.5 sacks and 25 takeaways, 10 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. He was voted to five Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times.
1987 Greg Lloyd: In the course of franchise history, there have been players who personified the attitude that is Steelers football. Greg Lloyd was one of those players. During his career here as an outside linebacker, Lloyd played in 131 games and started 125, and in those he recorded 53.5 sacks and 25 takeaways, 10 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. He was voted to five Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times.
1987 Greg Lloyd: In the course of franchise history, there have been players who personified the attitude that is Steelers football. Greg Lloyd was one of those players. During his career here as an outside linebacker, Lloyd played in 131 games and started 125, and in those he recorded 53.5 sacks and 25 takeaways, 10 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. He was voted to five Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times.
1979 Dwayne Woodruff: The teams best cornerback in between Mel Blount and Rod Woodson, Woodruff played in 157 games, with 105 starts, and he finished his career with 41 takeaways, 37 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In the six seasons from 1982-87, Woodruff had 23 interceptions in 64 games. One Super Bowl ring.
1979 Dwayne Woodruff: The teams best cornerback in between Mel Blount and Rod Woodson, Woodruff played in 157 games, with 105 starts, and he finished his career with 41 takeaways, 37 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In the six seasons from 1982-87, Woodruff had 23 interceptions in 64 games. One Super Bowl ring.
1979 Dwayne Woodruff: The teams best cornerback in between Mel Blount and Rod Woodson, Woodruff played in 157 games, with 105 starts, and he finished his career with 41 takeaways, 37 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In the six seasons from 1982-87, Woodruff had 23 interceptions in 64 games. One Super Bowl ring.
1948 Jerry Shipkey: A case can be made that Shipkey began the franchises legacy of great linebacker play, because he was a two-time first-team All-Pro and was voted to play in the first three Pro Bowls, and he also played fullback on offense. In his four Steelers seasons, Shipkey scored 16 touchdowns on offense and accounted for 22 takeaways, 13 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries, on defense.
1948 Jerry Shipkey: A case can be made that Shipkey began the franchises legacy of great linebacker play, because he was a two-time first-team All-Pro and was voted to play in the first three Pro Bowls, and he also played fullback on offense. In his four Steelers seasons, Shipkey scored 16 touchdowns on offense and accounted for 22 takeaways, 13 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries, on defense.
1976 – GARY DUNN**: By the time the Steelers picked Gary Dunn, the original Steel Curtain was showing signs of rust, what with Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood both being seven-year veterans. Dunn, a defensive tackle and then a nose tackle when the Steelers switched to a 3-4, led the team in sacks in 1981 and tied for the lead in 1982, and he finished his career with 35.5. Two Super Bowl rings.
1979 – DWAYNE WOODRUFF: The team's best cornerback in the era between Mel Blount and Rod Woodson, Woodruff played in 157 games, with 105 starts, and he finished his career with 41 takeaways – 37 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. In the six seasons from 1982-87, Woodruff had 23 interceptions in 64 games. One Super Bowl ring.
1980 – TUNCH ILKIN: A center when he was drafted out of Indiana State, Ilkin became a tackle because of the presence of Mike Webster in the starting lineup. A full-time starter by 1983, Ilkin played both left tackle and right tackle, and he finished with 143 starts during his 13 seasons with the Steelers. A two-time Pro Bowl selection.
1982 – BRYAN HINKLE: Just because he never made the Pro Bowl, don't let that taint what was a very good 12-year career as an outside linebacker with the Steelers. In the eight-season span from 1984-91, Hinkle started 113 games and contributed 21.5 sacks and 26 takeaways – 15 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries – while scoring three defensive touchdowns.
1987 – GREG LLOYD: In the course of franchise history, there have been players who personified the attitude that has come to be known and recognized as Steelers Football. Greg Lloyd was one of those players. During his career here as an outside linebacker, Lloyd played in 131 games and started 125, and in those he recorded 53.5 sacks and 25 takeaways – 10 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. Lloyd still is in eighth place on the Steelers' all-time sacks list. He was voted to five Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times.
2010 – ANTONIO BROWN: He may be one of the shining examples of how the Steelers have used the draft to build the franchise that has won more Lombardi trophies than any other in the NFL. First of all, Brown was obtained with a draft pick that can be traced to the trade of Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets. The Steelers got a fifth-round pick for Holmes, the 155th overall in the 2010 draft. When it came time to make that selection, the Steelers traded it to Arizona in exchange for cornerback Bryant McFadden, whom the Cardinals were trying to unload after overpaying him during the 2009 free agency period, and a sixth-round pick, which was the 195th overall of the 2010 draft. When it came time to make that selection, the Steelers used it on Brown.
At the end of the 2015 season, the NFL chronicled some of Brown's recent accomplishments: "Tied for the league lead with 136 receptions and has 265 total receptions over the past two seasons, surpassing MARVIN HARRISON (252 in 2001-02) for the most catches in any two-season span in NFL history … Joined WES WELKER (2007-09) as the only players in NFL history with three consecutive 110-catch seasons (129 in 2014; 110 in 2013).
Had four 185-yard receiving games in 2015, the most in a single season in NFL history … Became the only player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions and a punt return-touchdown in multiple seasons and has done so in each of the past three seasons (2013-15) … Reached 400 career receptions in Week 2 in his 72nd career game, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW as the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach the milestone. Only ANQUAN BOLDIN (67) and LARRY FITZGERALD (71) reached 400 catches in fewer games.
Brown already has been voted to four Pro Bowls, and he was named a first-team All-Pro wide receiver in both of the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Who's on your Steelers #UltimateDraft board? Vote now for your chance to win great prizes!
NEXT: Round 5
