List of Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft picks

The franchise changed its name to the Steelers prior to the 1940 season, to represent the city's heritage of producing steel.

The draft is used as the primary means to distribute newly available talent (primarily from college football) equitably amongst the teams.

The Steelers' first selection in the inaugural NFL draft was William Shakespeare, a halfback from Notre Dame.

[5] Through 2023, ten Steeler first-round picks have gone on to have playing careers deemed worthy of enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terry Bradshaw, Len Dawson, Bill Dudley, Alan Faneca, Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Bobby Layne, Troy Polamalu, Lynn Swann, and Rod Woodson.

[6] The team's most recent first-round selection was Broderick Jones, an offensive tackle from the University of Georgia.

Byron "Whizzer" White was selected fourth overall in the 1938 draft – he went on to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1954 first-round selection Johnny Lattner played only a single NFL season.
Franco Harris caught the " Immaculate Reception " in the 1972 NFL Playoffs .
Lynn Swann, drafted in 1974, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
Rod Woodson, drafted in 1987, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Alan Faneca was a 5-time All-Pro for the Steelers after being drafted in 1998.
Troy Polamalu made the Pro Bowl six consecutive years from 2004 to 2009, and was Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
Drafted in 2004, Ben Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 2005 at the age of 23. [ 7 ]