Steelers Last Decade of Drafting: Round 6 Review

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

The NFL Draft is getting closer, and everyone is clamoring for the Steelers to make the right pick, but what will be the right pick when we get there? Who will be our lucky 17, and hopefully be the man we need? That's a question that will be answered on the night of the draft, but for now, let's talk about the 6th-round talent the Steelers selected in the past. While more prominent than the 7th round, there still isn't much hype with the 6th round. However, that doesn't mean the Steelers haven't found some great players. A few names come to mind like Greg Lloyd and the infamous Antonio Brown, known for their amazing talent despite being selected so far down. But what are the best 6th-rounders the Steelers have selected in the past decade? Let's grade 'em!

2013: 

Justin Brown, WR

Grade: 4/10

When it comes to getting guys with the last name Brown, the Steelers have done it thrice. The most famous are Antonio Brown, Chris Brown (no, not that one), and Justin Brown. Justin Brown was selected 186th overall out of Oklahoma. He would spend his rookie season on the practice squad before getting a shot in 2014 and playing in 6 games. In those 6 games, he recorded 12 receptions, 94 yards, 2 drops, 1 fumble, and zero touchdowns. Not exactly Canton-worthy. After the 2014 season, he would be waived. He would be claimed by the Buffalo Bills later on but would be waived again before the 2015 season. In 2017, he would play in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts and he's never looked back. While not playing the greatest, he at least got to a point a lot of late-round guys don't get to and got to be on the active roster and play a few snaps.

Vince Williams, LB

Grade: 8/10

The best 6th-round pick of the last 10 years, enter Mr. Vincenzo Jerard Williams! Williams was selected 206th overall out of Florida State. He would spend most of his first 2-3 years as a special teams player and a rotating backup linebacker. In 2016, he was signed to a 3-year contract and got a chance to showcase his skills when Ryan Shazier went down with an injury. In 2 straight games, he got a sack and 9+ tackles and played effectively as the backup. In 2017, he would finally get the starting opportunity. He would get 8 sacks, 70 tackles, and even intercepted Tom Brady. In 2018, he would resume starting duties due to Shazier being out due to a spinal injury. He would record 5 sacks, 55 tackles, an interception, and a touchdown. In 2019, he wouldn't see a ton of action as usual with the rookie linebacker, Devin Bush, making rounds as an elite talent (those were the days). Williams would record 32 tackles and 3 sacks and that was it in 2019. In 2020, Vince would get more competition, as Devin Bush and Avery Williamson would take over. He would record 50 tackles, and 3 sacks in 2020 and this would be his final season as he was released in March before retiring in July. For a 6th-round pick, Williams had an exceptional career and is a friendly face for Steeler fans everywhere! 

2014: 

Jordan Zumwalt, LB

Grade: N/A

Dang, the Steelers were doing so well on players getting involved in the active roster, I forgot we were talking about the 6th round. Zumwalt was selected 192nd overall out of UCLA. However, injuries would cost him ever playing a snap as he went on the injured reserve his first two seasons. He would be waived before the 2016 season. 

Daniel McCullers, DT

Grade: 6/10

Much better! Big Dan McCullers was selected 215th overall out of Tennessee. He would make the 53-man roster and wear #92 but switched to #62 when James Harrison re-signed with the Steelers because why don't YOU tell Harrison "no" ?? Anyways, McCullers would only play 64 snaps and only recorded 3 tackles in 2014. In 2015, McCullers would serve as the backup defensive tackle and play 106 total snaps. He would only record 4 tackles. In 2016, he would play 181 snaps and would block a field goal against the Dolphins, and even recorded his first career sack against RG3 in a Week 17 matchup vs. Cleveland and recorded 13 total tackles throughout the season. In 2017, McCullers would only play 13 snaps and record one tackle vs. Chicago. In 2018, McCullers would sign a 1-year contract and would improve his snap count, and play 111 total snaps but only recorded 4 tackles and 1 sack. In 2019, McCullers would sign a 2-year contract and play 131 snaps but only record 7 tackles. Before 2020, the Steelers would release McCullers and add him to the practice squad before being signed by Chicago then released again and then added to Chicago's practice squad. McCullers is now a free agent readying for the next opportunity that is available to him. 

2015:

L.T Walton, DT

Grade: 5/10

L.T. Walton was selected 199th overall out of Central Michigan. He would make the active roster in his rookie season and only play 29 snaps but only one tackle to his name. In 2016, he would get more action as he played 255 snaps and recorded 7 tackles. In 2017, he got less action and played 144 snaps, and recorded 9 tackles and 2 sacks. In 2018, he got even less action with 52 snaps and recorded only one tackle. He would be released and got picked up by Buffalo in 2019 before being released again but picked up by Pittsburgh again but was put on the injury reserve and hasn't played football since.

Anthony Chickillo, DE

Grade: 6/10

Chickillo was drafted 212th overall out of Miami. In his rookie season, he was signed to the practice squad before being added to the active roster in September. He played in 7 games and recorded 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery and 6 tackles. 2016 would be a good year for Anthony. He recorded 2 sacks, 17 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles off 318 snaps. In 2017, Chickillo would sign a 1-year contract and would play 270 snaps and record 3 sacks, and 8 tackles, and even recovered a blocked punt in the endzone for the first touchdown of the season in the week 1 opener vs. Cleveland. In 2018, he would sign another 1-year contract and play 295 snaps, and record 2 sacks and 10 tackles. In 2019, he would sign a 2-year contract but would be arrested for a domestic violence charge and would be put on the commissioner's list. However, the charges were dropped 10 days after they were put out and Chickillo resumed his time on the Steelers from there. He would play 146 snaps and record a sack and 9 tackles. After 2019, he would be released. He would sign with the Saints before being put on the practice squad but signed with the Broncos for the 2020 season. He would play 164 snaps and would get a sack and 7 tackles. After the 2020 season, Chickillo announced his retirement from football.

2016: 

Travis Feeney, LB

Grade: N/A

Travis Feeney was selected 220th overall out of Washington. However, he would be released and signed to the Steelers practice squad. He would be signed by the Saints toward the end of the year but would be waived next year in June. In the fall of 2018, he would be signed by the San Diego Fleet in the AAF. After the AAF ceased, he would be signed in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes but would be released the same day. In 2020, he would play for the Toronto Argonauts and be released in 2021. Now he resides in the XFL, playing for the St. Louis BattleHawks.

2017:

Colin Holba, LS

Grade: N/A

Colin Holba was selected 213th overall out of Louisville. He was projected to be the team's long snapper after the departure of Greg Warren but was beaten by Kameron Canaday. No point in a second-string long snapper and was released. Before retiring in 2022, he would play for seven total teams, including the Steelers. The Jaguars, 49ers, a brief stint in the XFL with the Dallas Renegades, Giants, Rams, 49ers again, Rams again, and finally the Bengals. He is the John Johnson of long snappers! 

2019: 

Sutton Smith, HB

Grade: N/A

Sutton Smith was selected 175th overall out of Northern Illinois. He wouldn't play a snap and be waived before the season started. He would be signed by the Jaguars and be on their practice squad before being released a week later. He would get a second chance on the Steelers and be on the practice squad but would be released. Then got back on the practice squad and was released again! It would take 2 more teams, Seahawks and Saints, until Smith finally got a shot in late 2021 on the Raiders and mostly played on special teams before he was released in May of 2022. 

Isaiah Buggs, DT

Grade: 6/10

Well, this is great timing considering he just signed a 2-year contract with Detroit! Isaiah Buggs was selected 192nd overall out of Alabama. He made the 53-man roster and played 75 total snaps and got only 3 tackles. Next year, he played more snaps, 131 in total, and recorded a sack and 9 tackles. In 2021, he played 227 snaps and only recorded 9 tackles. After 2021, he was released and signed with the Raiders practice squad before getting signed by Detroit and turned his career around and played every game with 13 starts and recorded a sack, 27 tackles, and a forced fumble. Good for him on his new contract and good luck! 

Ulysees Gilbert, LB

Grade: 4/10

Ulysees Gilbert was selected 207th overall out of Akron. He missed his entire rookie season due to a back injury and wouldn't play until next year. He played 34 snaps in 2020 and got 2 tackles. Next year, he played 37 snaps and recorded 2 tackles. Injuries kept holding him down and he was waived and currently resides in Tampa Bay. 

2020: 

Antoine Brooks Jr, S

Grade: 4/10

Brooks was selected 198th overall out of Maryland. He would be waived and then added to the practice squad. He would eventually get to the active roster later in the year and play 29 snaps and record just one tackle. Before the 2021 season, he would be released but was signed 2 days later by the LA Rams and was on the active roster at the time the Rams won the Super Bowl so you could technically call him a Super Bowl champion so good for him! He would be waived before the 2022 season and now resides in the XFL playing for the Seattle Sea Dragons.

2021:

Quincy Roche, LB

Grade: N/A

Quincy Roche was selected 217th overall out of Miami. He would be waived before the season could begin but was picked up by the New York Giants. He would play 401 snaps and record 3 sacks, 24 tackles, and a forced fumble. Next season he would be downgraded to just 6 snaps and spend a good majority of his 2022 season on the Giants practice squad before he was signed to a future contract by the team that drafted him, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2022:

Connor Heyward, TE

Grade: 6/10

The brother of the defensive star, Cameron Heyward, Connor is looking to mirror the success of his brother and father, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. Connor was selected 209th overall out of Michigan State. He's had a good start with his first career touchdown in Atlanta and still being a third-string tight end. He can also play fullback if needed. I see him having a bright future in Pittsburgh! 

For last weeks article on the 7th-round talents, click here: 

https://www.yinzercrazy.com/steelers-last-decade-of-drafting-round-7-review

Check by again next week where I will review every 5th-round pick from the past decade!