Football legends and Western Pennsylvania natives Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin and Jimbo Covert are among three dozen retired or active players who’ll represent their former franchises on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
The players will announce second- and third-round selections on April 24. The list, released Thursday by the NFL, features nine members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and 16 players with regional ties to Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, the Steelers or local high schools.
Along with Dorsett (Cowboys), Martin (Jets) and Covert (Bears), the other hall of famers are Jerome Bettis (Steelers), John Stallworth (Steelers), Drew Pearson (Cowboys), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Dwight Stephenson (Dolphins) and Ronde Barber (Buccaneers).
Also representing the Steelers will be Joey Porter Sr. and Joey Porter Jr.
The list features former Pitt players James Conner (Arizona), Bill Maas (Chiefs), Brian O’Neill (Vikings) and Andy Lee (49ers), along with Dorsett and Martin. The former Penn State players are Paul Posluszny (Jaguars), Matt Millen (Raiders), Shane Conlan (Bills) and Porter Jr., a North Allegheny graduate.
Plum native and former West Virginia player Pat McAfee will represent the Colts. Former Mountaineer Tavon Austin represents the Rams.
Others graduates from WPIAL or City League high schools are Dorsett and Posluszny of Hopewell, Martin of Allderdice, Covert of Freedom and Conner of McDowell.
NFL franchise, Player, College
Arizona Cardinals, James Conner, Pitt
Atlanta Falcons, Michael Turner, Northern Illinois
Baltimore Ravens, Mark Ingram, Alabama
Buffalo Bills, Shane Conlan, Penn State
Carolina Panthers, Jake Delhomme, Louisiana
Chicago Bears, Jimbo Covert, Pitt
Cincinnati Bengals, Ken Anderson, Augustana
Cleveland Browns, Phil Dawson, Texas
Dallas Cowboys, Tony Dorsett, Pitt
Dallas Cowboys, Drew Pearson, Tulsa
Denver Broncos, TJ Ward, Oregon
Detroit Lions, Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
Green Bay Packers, John Kuhn, Shippensburg
Houston Texans, Billy Miller, Southern California
Indianapolis Colts, Pat McAfee, West Virginia
Jacksonville Jaguars, Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Kansas City Chiefs, Bill Maas, Pitt
Las Vegas Raiders, Matt Millen, Penn State
Los Angeles Chargers, Shawne Merriman, Maryland
Los Angeles Rams, Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Miami Dolphins, Dwight Stephenson, Alabama
Minnesota Vikings, Brian O’Neill, Pitt
New England Patriots, Deion Branch, Louisville
New Orleans Saints, Marques Colston, Hofstra
New York Giants, Osi Umenyiora, Troy
New York Jets, Curtis Martin, Pitt
Philadelphia Eagles, Brian Westbrook, Villanova
Pittsburgh Steelers, Jerome Bettis, Notre Dame
Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey Porter Sr., Colorado State
Pittsburgh Steelers, John Stallworth, Alabama A&M
San Francisco 49ers, Andy Lee, Pitt
Seattle Seahawks, Cliff Avril, Purdue
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ronde Barber, Virginia
Tennessee Titans, Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
Washington Commanders, Mark Rypien, Washington State