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Steelers made crazy request of Aaron Donald ahead of the NFL draft
TL;DR
In 2014, the Pittsburgh Steelers considered drafting Aaron Donald but wanted to convert him to outside linebacker. Donald, who became a Hall of Fame interior defensive lineman, was ultimately not selected by the Steelers, who chose Ryan Shazier instead.
Key points
- Steelers considered drafting Aaron Donald in 2014
- Donald was a standout at Pitt and highly coveted
- Steelers wanted to convert him to outside linebacker
- Pittsburgh selected Ryan Shazier instead
- Donald became a Hall of Fame interior defensive lineman
Mentioned in this story
Mike TomlinDick LeBeau
Not Just Football PodcastPittsburgh SteelersLos Angeles RamsAaron Donald
Back in 2014, former Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was one of the most coveted prospects in the NFL Draft. and as a Pitt Panther, was a player the Pittsburgh Steelers knew well. The Steelers held the No. 15 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft so there was a realistic possibility that Donald would either be on the board or close enough for the Steelers to trade up for.
But had this happened, Donald's Hall of Fame career arc would have gone very differently. Donald went on the Not Just Football Podcast, hosted by Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward and said that the Steelers wanted to move him to outside linebacker if they drafted him. Donald played his career at 6-foot-1 and around 285 pounds and will go down as maybe the best interior defensive lineman of all time.
Mike Tomlin was the Steelers head coach in 2014 and legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was in his final season with the team. Pittsburgh didn't get Donald, but was able to select linebacker Ryan Shazier with the No. 15 overall pick.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers made crazy request of Aaron Donald ahead of the NFL draft
Q&A
What did the Steelers want to do with Aaron Donald if they drafted him?
The Steelers wanted to move Aaron Donald to outside linebacker if they had drafted him.
Who did the Steelers select instead of Aaron Donald in the 2014 NFL Draft?
The Steelers selected linebacker Ryan Shazier with the No. 15 overall pick instead of Aaron Donald.
How has Aaron Donald's career been impacted by not being drafted by the Steelers?
Aaron Donald went on to have a Hall of Fame career as an interior defensive lineman, which would have been different had he been drafted and moved to outside linebacker by the Steelers.