Steelers legend James Harrison hammers Pittsburgh NFL draft struggles

One of the most outspoken former Pittsburgh Steelers out there is James Harrison. Harrison is a Steelers legend and has earned the right to be critical of his former team. After Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns, Harrison railed about his former team and head coach Mike Tomlin and the struggles in the NFL draft since their last playoff win.

Harrison noted on his Deebo and Joe Podcast he does with former Steelers and Browns cornerback, Joe Haden, and Harrison was highly critical of Tomlin and the Steelers first and second-round draft picks after the 2016 season.

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“Since our last playoff win in 2016 we cannot even pick right on the 1st and 2nd rounders," Harrison said. "We’ve made more misses than hits on our 1st and 2nd rounders. There’s only two players on our squad that got extended in that timeframe to a long term deal that’s TJ and Freiermuth and that’s all on Coach T.”

For reference, here are the Steelers first and second-round picks from 2017 to 2025.

2017

First round - EDGE T.J. Watt

Second round - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

2018

First round - S Terrell Edmunds

Second round - WR James Washington

2019

First round - LB Devin Bush

Second round - No pick

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2020

First round - No pick

Second round - WR Chase Claypool

2021

First round - RB Najee Harris

Second round - TE Pat Freiermuth

2022

First round - QB Kenny Pickett

Second round - WR George Pickens

2023

First round - OT Broderick Jones

Second round - CB Joey Porter Jr.

Second round - DT Keeanu Benton

2024

First round - OT Troy Fautanu

Second round - C Zach Frazier

2025

First round - DT Derrick Harmon

Second round - No pick

We have often said that those final drafts of former General Manager Kevin Colbert were miserable and it really felt like he lost his touch. The jury is still out on the most recent drafts but it does feel like GM Omar Khan and Assistant GM Andy Weidl are doing a better job of talent evaluation.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers legend James Harrison hammers Pittsburgh NFL draft struggles