Steelers Last Decade of Drafting: Round 5 Review

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Jayson Erwin. Follow him on Twitter @JaysonErwin2002

For the past two weeks, I've been uncovering the Steelers last decade of drafting starting at Round 7 and then last week, Round 6. Now we're entering mid-round pick territory where more eyes are on but still not a ton of expectations. Despite this, some Steeler greats like Larry Brown, William Gay, and "Iron" Mike Webster have all been selected out of the 5th round. Since 2013, there have been nine players taken out of the 5th round by the Steelers and some have exceeded expectations, while some showed why they were 5th-round picks. So let's list and grade 'em! 

2013: 

Terry Hawthorne, DB

Grade: N/A

Terry Hawthorne was selected 150th overall out of Illinois. His time in the Steel City would be short, however. He would be released in late August, never playing a snap. He would spend some time in the CFL on the Calgary Stampeders but only for one year. He now resides as the cornerback's coach for the Southern Illinois Salukis.

2014: 

Shaquille Richardson, CB

Grade: N/A

Let it be known Shaq was on the Steelers for a brief period. Shaquille Richardson was selected 157th overall out of Arizona. He, unfortunately, wouldn't make the 53-man roster and be released. He would have brief stints with the Chiefs, Cardinals, Titans, Panthers, and Raiders before joining the AAF and playing for the Arizona Hotshots before joining the CFL and playing for the Toronto Argonauts. He now remains a free agent in the CFL. 

Welsey Johnson, C

Grade: N/A

Wesley Johnson was selected 173rd overall out of Vanderbilt. He would make the initial 53-man roster before being waived in the middle of October. He would get another chance and be signed the next day by the New York Jets but wouldn't play a snap that season. His first career start came in a game vs. the Raiders at the beginning of November 2015. He would play 73 snaps and allow 1 sack. In 2016, he would start 8 games and allow zero sacks. After a successful 2016 campaign, Johnson would get the start at the center position for 2017 and sign a 1-year contract. He would take 938 total snaps for the year and allow 2 sacks. The Jets wouldn't re-sign him and Johnson had brief stints with the Lions, Dolphins, and 49ers. He hasn't played since being released in 2019. 

2015: 

Jesse James, TE

Grade: 7/10

The best 5th-round pick of the last 10 years? Yes, sir! Jesse James was drafted 160th overall out of Penn State. He wouldn't see a lot of action in his rookie year but his sophomore year would prove to be a good year for the 6'7 tight end. With Heath Miller retired and injuries to Ladarius Green, Jesse James was the next man up. He would have 39 receptions, 3 touchdowns, and was a good blocker. The only issue would be his consistency of hands, due to drops. In 2017, he would be a 2nd-string tight end behind Vance McDonald. He would get 43 receptions and 3 touchdowns. It should be 4 touchdowns but I'm not revisiting a time a football game made me depressed, maybe for another article. In 2018, he would serve the same role as last year being behind Vance McDonald. He would get 30 receptions and two touchdowns. He would not resign with the Steelers and even sighted he was glad to leave due to all the drama surrounding the Steelers at the time, even comparing the Steelers to the Kardashians. Didn't know the Steelers were in the AFC West. He would then spend brief stints with the Lions, Bears, and rival Browns. Even with the way he left, he still says he would be glad to return to Pittsburgh. And you can't blame him for being glad to leave, a lot was going on within the organization with Antonio Brown's antics every week and Le'Veon Bell's contract holdout. Either way, Jesse James played his role well in his 4 years in Pittsburgh. 

2017: 

Brian Allen, CB

Grade: N/A

Brian Allen was selected 173rd overall out of Utah. Despite being on the active roster for the better part of a year, he wouldn't play a snap and be waived in 2019 due to injury. He would have brief stints with the Seahawks, Bills, 49ers, Bengals, and Browns before going into the USFL to join Birmingham Stallions before rejoining the NFL and having a stint with the Saints before being waived for the final time and rejoining the Stallions in the USFL and has remained there since. 

2018:

Marcus Allen, S

Grade: 5/10

Two Allen's in a row, baby! Marcus Allen was selected 148th overall out of Penn State. He would make the 53-man roster but only played 18 snaps. In those 18 snaps, he would only record one tackle. In 2019, he would start the season on the practice squad but be promoted in December but wouldn't record any snaps. In 2020, he would switch to linebacker and be more involved and play 207 snaps. He would only record 5 tackles, however. He would sign a 1-year extension in early 2021. He would play 63 snaps and record 5 tackles in 2021. In 2022, Allen would spend the entire season on the injured reserve. He still retains a roster spot so we'll see how he does in 2023! 

Jaylen Samuels, HB

Grade: 6/10

The OG backup running back that's named Jaylen! Jaylen Samuels was selected 165th overall out of NC State. Samuels would have a unique rookie year. He wouldn't see the field much until a 3 week-stretch. He would be the starting running back with James Conner suffering an injury against the Oakland Raiders. He would have 11 carries, 28 rushing yards, 7 receptions, and 64 receiving yards. Not a bad game, right? Well, ladies and gentlemen, what if I told you that the player the Steelers needed to beat New England wasn't Ben Roethlisberger, wasn't Antonio Brown, and believe it or not it wasn't Landry Jones, it was Jaylen Samuels!

Samuels would carry the rock 19 times for 142 yards and 2 receptions for 30 yards and averaged 7.5 yards per carry, the Steelers would beat the Patriots for the first time since 2011 and Jaylen Samuels was a huge help in the win! His 142 yards rushing would be the 2nd most by a rookie in Steelers history. Next game Samuels would have another solid game recording 53 yards off 12 carries and 11 yards off 3 receptions. That would be his last game as a starter that year but still what a 3-game stretch! Maybe this guy has a chance to be something in Pittsburgh! 2019 would be another interesting year. The running game wasn't as included with Samuels with Benny Snell getting snaps when Conner went down. He would get his first career touchdown but never had an eye-opening game except one against the Colts. He had 73 receiving yards and caught the ball 13 times, which is a Steelers franchise record for catches for a running back previously owned by Le'Veon Bell in 2017 with 12. Also with Big Ben out for the year, the QB room was a bit of a battle between Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges but they probably wouldn't have expected Samuels to get some throws, too! Samuels would throw 5 passes, 4 completed, and 1 intercepted. 2020 would be an uneventful year and only carried the ball 9 times for 28 yards. Samuels would be released before the 2021 season and join the practice squad. He would join the Texans and the Cardinals and now remains in free agency. A truly interesting career!

2019:

Zach Gentry, TE

Grade: 5/10

Zach Gentry was selected 141st overall out of Michigan. The 6'8 mad lad has shown flashes but hasn't shown greatness, yet. Being the player selected from the Antonio Brown trade does put some eyes on you, however, Gentry has slowly been getting more involved in the offense. First two years he only recorded 1 catch for 4 yards, but in the last two years he's been near perfect on catches when targeted and has 19 receptions, 298 yards, but no touchdowns to show. But with Connor Heyward's stock heating up, Gentry needs to start showing up here soon if he hopes to see the field more as the tight end behind Pat Freiermuth. 

2021: 

Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE

Grade: 5/10

Last but not least, the MilkMan, himself! Isaiahh Loudermilk was selected 156th overall out of Wisconsin. His first year didn't see a ton of action, yet got his first career sack against Cleveland. 2nd year didn't see a ton either, with only 4 tackles to his name. With the defensive line needing upgrades, can the MilkMan be the one to deliver the next generation of defensive linemen in the Steel City? 

For the 6th round review, click here:

Steelers Last Decade of Drafting: Round 6 Review (yinzercrazy.com)

For the 7th round review, click here:

Steelers Last Decade of Drafting: Round 7 Review (yinzercrazy.com)

And that's the 5th round! Check back next week for when we take a look at the Steelers 4th round picks from the last decade!