To be or not to be — that is the question for the Pittsburgh

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“It is not in our stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” (William Shakespeare)The central question which continues to bedevil Steelers Nation these days concerns the reasons why the Black-and-gold Franco Harris Jersey , despite posting winning records in recent seasons, have been unable to take that final step to claim the franchise’s seventh NFL championship. This mystery isn’t just the elephant in the room — it’s more like the whale in the room. Reviewing the history of Steelers’ draft picks, you’ll encounter the interesting fact that the team’s first-ever draft choice, way back in 1936, was a halfback from Notre Dame by the unforgettable name of William Shakespeare. During the Depression era, pro football wasn’t a particularly lucrative profession, so Shakespeare the football player opted to quit the game to pursue a career in business instead. He was also a decorated, World War II hero in the Army. After the war, Shakespeare resumed his job at the Cincinnati Rubber Company, rising through the ranks to become the firm’s president in 1960.The famous handle of this original Steelers’ draft pick brings to mind a crucial distinction between players who enjoy long and stellar careers in the NFL, and those who — despite impressive pedigrees coming out of college — never quite make the grade at the professional level. So in view of the timeless, existential question posed four centuries ago by the “Bard of Avon,” it’s worthwhile examining the Steelers’ first-round draft picks over a 22-year span from 1997 to 2018 through the lens of Shakespeare’s famous dichotomy. Here’s the list:1997:Chad Scott, Cornerback (8 seasons with Pittsburgh)1998:Alan Faneca, Guard (10 seasons with Pittsburgh)1999: Troy Edwards, WR (3 seasons with Pittsburgh)2000: Plaxico Burress, WR (5 seasons with Pittsburgh)2001: Casey Hampton, NT (12 seasons with Pittsburgh)2002: Kendall Simmons, Guard (Due to injuries, played only 4 of 6 seasons with the team)2003: Troy Polamalu, Safety (12 seasons with Pittsburgh)2004: Ben Roethlisberger, QB (14th season with Pittsburgh)2005: Heath Miller, TE (10 seasons with Pittsburgh)2006: Santonio Holmes, WR (4 seasons with Pittsburgh)2007: Lawrence Timmons, LB (10 seasons with Pittsburgh)2008: Rashard Mendenhall, RB (5 seasons with Pittsburgh)2009: Ziggy Hood, DE (5 seasons with Pittsburgh)2010: Maurkice Pouncey, Center (9th season with Pittsburgh)2011: Cameron Heyward, DE (8th season with Pittsburgh)2012: David DeCastro, Guard (7th season with Pittsburgh)2013: Jarvis Jones, LB (4 seasons with Pittsburgh)2014: Ryan Shazier Dermontti Dawson Jersey , LB (3 seasons and part of his 4th before serious injury)2015: Bud Dupree, LB(4th season with Pittsburgh)2016: Artie Burns, CB (3rd season with Pittsburgh2017: T.J. Watt, LB (2nd season with Pittsburgh)2018: Terrell Edmunds (rookie season with Pittsburgh)In the big picture, the value of any first-rounder is determined not only by the quality of the player’s contributions to winning, but also by how long the player remains a viable member of the team. Comparing Pittsburgh’s first-round draft picks during the 1997-2007 period (11 seasons) to the 2008-2018 period (also 11 seasons), we find the average length of their careers with the Steelers was 8.36 years for the former period (‘97 to ‘07) and only 4.63 years for the most recent period (‘08 to ‘18). This comparison, of course, is somewhat skewed by the fact that the most recent period includes a few players who likely have several more years remaining in their careers with the Black-and-gold (e.g. Artie Burns, T.J. Watt, Terrell Edmunds and Bud Dupree). Nonetheless, the difference in total years played with the Steelers favors the former period by 41 seasons (92 vs. 51). So, considering that the jury is still out regarding the long-term viability of players such as Burns and Dupree — and also considering that the injury-shortened careers of Shazier and Kendall Simmons roughly cancel each other out in this comparison — it’s likely that the average career length of the Steelers’ top draft picks has shortened by roughly three years during the past decade to a term of approximately five years, compared to eight years in the pre-2008 period. Additionally, when we look at the quality of player contributions to the team’s overall success, the earlier 1997-2007 period includes names such as Alan Faneca, Plaxico Burress, Casey Hampton, Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, Heath Miller and Lawrence Timmons —whereas the more recent 2008-2018 period is limited to the names Maurkice Pouncey, Cameron Heyward, David DeCastro and Ryan Shazier. Considering strictly these well-known star performers for the Black-and-gold, the first-round picks from the earlier period currently hold a whopping, seasons-played advantage of 73-27. Thus, it seems highly unlikely that the Steelers’ first-rounders from 2008-2018 will contribute much more than approximately half as much to the team’s success during their careers as their predecessors did.One key reason for this striking difference, of course, is that today’s top NFL performers continue to earn larger and larger salaries with each passing year — so the tendency is for teams to draft less-costly replacements for star players who have reached the latter stages of their productive careers when their contracts weigh more heavily on the teams’ salary caps. But another factor is the recognition among top NFL draft picks that it’s advantageous to use free agency to maximize their income during the relatively brief periods of their lives while they’re playing pro football.No longer retaining key players for 8-12 years, which was commonplace in the past, there’s also been a significant decline in the team continuity which fans had come to expect from year to year. For example, after drafting Heath Miller in 2005 Chris Boswell Jersey , the Steelers went for an entire decade without ever wondering who would be lining up at tight end. But since his retirement, the position has often resembled musical chairs. Similarly, since Casey Hampton hung up his spikes, the Steelers have never been able to find that prototypical nose tackle to replace Hampton’s unparalleled run-stuffing and middle-clogging capabilities. Looking at the Steelers’ defense today, you’re seeing a lot more question marks out there than the positions solidly manned.Perhaps most importantly, the Steelers need to recapture the level of first-round draft success they enjoyed previously. In their 2009 and 2013 drafts, for example, the Steelers misfired badly, selecting Ziggy Hood and Jarvis Jones — two players who contributed precious little to the team’s success. Today, many fans are openly questioning the wisdom of drafting first-rounders Dupree and Burns in consecutive years. If neither of them pans out in the long run with the Steelers — and noting the equally dicey pick of running back Rashard Mendenhall in 2008 — this ultimately could represent five strikeouts for Rooney U. in their top draft picks out of the past eleven NFL Drafts. That’s certainly not any record to write home about.And despite the fact that Le’Veon Bell was a second-round pick, the current soap opera which the team is enduring with No. 26 underscores the fact that exceptional athletic talent, by itself, is no guarantee of success. As outstanding a player as Bell might be, his presence hasn’t proven to be the missing element in bringing a seventh Super Bowl title to the Steel City. Championship players are those willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be recognized as the best in their business. Sometimes this means putting the success of the team ahead of personal goals. While every team’s No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft is blessed with exceptional athletic talent, what makes any first-rounder a star — as well as a long-term contributor to a team’s success — is the burning desire, not necessarily to be the highest-paid player at his position, but simply being the best in a group of like-minded individuals firmly committed to that ultimate goal.In the decade prior to 2008, the Steelers mostly succeeded in the challenging task of finding players with the requisite talent and attitudes to build an NFL champion. But during the past decade, they simply haven’t done as good a job in the springtime sweepstakes. Interestingly enough, Ben Roethlisberger — the one player Steelers Nation leans on most heavily to haul them up that Stairway to Seven — currently is the lone holdover from those exceptional, 1997-2007 drafts. The Steelers made a bold move trading up in the first round to select Devin Bush, and after they did that there were certainly repercussions."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsLatest News2019 NFL Draft Analysis2019 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers after the Steelers pick of Devin BushNew,44commentsThe Steelers made a bold move trading up in the first round to select Devin Bush, and after they did that there were certainly repercussions.EDTShareTweetShareShare2019 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers after the Steelers pick of Devin BushRick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsThe Pittsburgh Steelers have gone and done something no one expected them to — they were aggressive in the 2019 NFL Draft and trade up 10 spots to get the player they coveted. When the team traded with the Denver Broncos and selected Devin Bush, ILB from Michigan, there were repercussions. With the Steelers making waves with the pick, there are some who could fall on the winners side of the deal, and also some who could fall on the losers end of the docket. Here, in the Winners and Losers column, we examine both sides.WinnersDevin BushThis is an obvious choice. Bush was seen as such a hot commodity the Steelers swapped first round picks, their 2019 second round pick and a 2020 third round pick to get him. Talk about a confidence booster. Getting drafted is one thing Merril Hoge Jersey , but having a team jump up in order to get you is another. The Steelers have a ton of faith in Bush as a potential stud on the inside of the defense.Steelers FansI took over the reigns of this site before Bud Dupree was the team’s first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and every year the fan base has been dumbfounded, or angry, at the teams pick. Dupree was too raw. Artie Burns was a reach. T.J. Watt was a combine phenom and nothing more. Terrell Edmunds would have been available in the 3rd round. Either way, there was always a gripe with the pick. While there are always outliers, the fan base seems very pleased with this pick. This is a first for me, and I’m not really sure how to handle it...Denver BroncosIf you were a Broncos fan, you should be happy with the team’s decision to trade back. They stayed in the first round, still drafted a player they wanted and also were able garner another second round pick in a draft where plenty of talent remains on the board. Oh, and they also received a 2020 3rd round selection. Pretty nice haul for the Broncos and John Elway.LosersMark BarronThe Steelers picked up Barron in free agency, and the thought was he could be a potential starter, but after the selection of Bush those thoughts have probably diminished. No one is crowning Bush just yet, well, maybe I am, but Barron is suddenly looking like a sub package player and nothing more. Not that he won’t see the field, but it just might not be the role he envisioned when signing on the dotted line. Sounds familiar, right Morgan Burnett?Jon BosticAfter the Steelers made their pick, many asked which ILB would be the odd man out. Easy...Bostic. Bostic is a player who just doesn’t have the lateral speed and coverage ability to play all three downs in today’s NFL. Therefore, not only could he be outright cut, but he would see very limited snaps if he does make the team.Cincinnati BengalsFor the second straight year the Steelers traded up in the draft to take a player many had going to the Bengals. Last year it was the Steelers who traded with the Seattle Seahawks to get Mason Rudolph right before the Bengals selected. Many thought the Bengals wanted to take Rudolph as an insurance policy for Andy Dalton. This year, after the Bengals cut Vontaze Burfict, there were many who saw Bush filling Burfict’s shoes as the inside linebacker of the future. Well, not anymore. Vince WilliamsUnlike Bostic, there is little-to-no chance the Steelers cut ties with Williams, not after giving him a new contract last year, but you can expect his time on the field to decrease this season. If Bush lives up to the hype, and I realize that is a big if, he will be an every down linebacker. With Barron being a hybrid safety/linebacker he would be the perfect player to come onto the field as Williams goes to the sideline. Williams is a large part of the Steelers’ defense, but his playing time likely took a big hit Thursday night.