Times were certainly different in the NFL in 1998, where first round picks didn’t always see the field right away and had to earn a starting spot.
At least, that was the case for former Pittsburgh Steelers left guard and Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Faneca. A first round pick at No. 26 overall out of LSU in the 1998 NFL Draft, Faneca was late getting to training camp and missed out on a chance to compete for the starting job at left guard with Pittsburgh native Roger Duffy.
Six weeks into the season though, following a Week 5 bye, Faneca stepped into the starting lineup in Week 6 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the rest is history for the Pro Football Hall of Famer.