Best, worst sixth-round picks of Kevin Colbert’s Steelers tenure

Editor’s note: This NFL Draft will be the 20th under the watch of Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. His two-decade tenure has produced two Super Bowls and a consistent playoff contender. Colbert’s drafts mostly reflect that. Like all NFL personnel men, though, he’s had picks he would like to have back. In conjunction with the Trib’s coverage leading up to the April 25 start of the draft, we look back at Colbert’s three best and three worst picks in each round during his tenure.

There was a time not too long ago in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room when Arthur Moats and Vince Williams spoke fondly of the fictional “Sixth-Rounders Club.” It was a celebration of the abundance of former sixth-round picks the Steelers had on their roster.

At one point, a half dozen sixth-rounders were active for the Steelers. While that number has thinned in recent years, the Steelers feature at least three former sixth-round picks — Williams, Anthony Chickillo and Daniel McCullers — who earned a second contract.

A sixth-rounder having a career that lasts (at least) five seasons? That’s a win.

The Steelers have had their share of victories in two decades of drafting under Kevin Colbert, including a huge “W” in 2010.

They’ve also taken a few “Ls.”

A quick look at some of the biggest of each:

Three best

1. Antonio Brown

WR, 2010, 195th overall

He’s not the most liked indivudual at the Steelers’ facilities, but Brown did provide those there with nine seasons of Hall of Fame-caliber play. If it wasn’t for some skinny QB from Michigan (Tom Brady) during Colbert’s first season heading the draft for the Steelers, Brown might have gone down as the best sixth-round pick of this century.

2. Vince Williams

LB, 2013, 206th overall

Williams is one of coach Mike Tomlin’s favorites because he accompanies his sixth-round talent with first-round smarts and work ethic to build a long and productive NFL career. After starting 11 games as a rookie, Williams became a full-time starter four years later and is established as a leader on the defense.

3. Ryan Mundy

S, 2008, 194th overall

The final pick of the worst Colbert-era draft to date, Mundy (Woodland Hills) evolved into a player who appeared in 64 consecutive Steelers games before becoming a starter for the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.

Three worst

1. Colin Holba

LS, 2017, 213th overall

If you’re going to expend draft capital on a long snapper — particularly when it’s not your final pick of the draft — he better be good. Instead, Holba lost a training-camp competition to waiver-wire pickup Kameron Canaday.

2. Jordan Zumwalt

LB, 2014, 192nd overall

Always in search for an edge rusher, the Steelers took a shot on Zumwalt, who kept getting injured during training camp. When he was on the field, Zumwalt didn’t produce in preseason games and didn’t stand out at practice though he made it through three camps.

3. Mike Humpal

LB, 2008, 188th overall

It might not be fair to lump Humpal into this category because part of his issue was a significant neck injury. Still, Humpal appeared in only one preseason game, and he never collected a practice-squad check. This story, however, has a happy ending. Not only was Humpal technically (on IR) part of the Super Bowl XLIII champions, he is a practicing chiropractor.

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