Laid back Sunday here at Steelers Depot. And with it, some lighter, though still interesting news. Many fans love to see where ex-players, even ones for a short time, end up, and several Pittsburgh Steelers were taken in the inaugural Major League Football – MLFB – draft that has taken place over the last several days. There were four teams, 69 rounds and here are the players I was able to find drafted.
Stevenson Sylvester/OLB – 4th Round
Cameron Clear/TE – 5th Round
Michael Thornton/DT – 6th Round
Jawon Chisholm/RB – 25th Round
Eric Waters/TE – 28th Round
Alvester Alexander/RB – 55th Round
Clear, Thornton, and Chisholm were all in camp with the Steelers this past season. Clear was an intruiging UDFA out of Texas A&M, a big, blocking capable body Todd Haley mentioned in the summer, perking up the ears of those here and follow the team. But he struggled with his conditioning and then suffered a foot injury, causing him to be waived/injured and released with a settlement. He’s never come close to reaching the potential he had out of high school when he committed and played one season with Tennessee before being dismissed after stealing a baseball player’s laptop.
Thornton was an undersized nose tackle but fun to watch in camp, a fire hydrant, explosive player, who would win some one-on-one battles during practice. He was among the first cuts this year.
Chisholm was brought in mid-way through camp after Ross Scheuerman’s injury. Out of Akron, Chisholm showed some talent, but not getting to play in the final preseason game told you all you needed to know about the Steelers’ thoughts on him.
Sylvester is the most well-known name here, drafted out of Utah in the 5th Round of the 2010 draft. However, he never really found a home playing outside linebacker, inside, or making a mark on special teams. 2013 was the last year spent on the team and he spent last season out of football.
Waters and Alexander are two 2014 camp members, neither making it past the final cutdown. Waters was an interesting move tight end but never gelled in the Steelers’ offense, requiring competent run blockers at the position.
EDIT: Some astute readers pointed out to players I missed. Kenzel Doe, the tiny receiver who spent part of camp with the team this past year, was selected in the 23rd round. And defensive lineman Joe Kruger, also with the Steelers in 2015, was taken in the 16th round.
