Kevin Colbert had a terrific record when it came to drafting safeties early in his tenure as Steelers general manager. The first time he picked a safety was 2002 when Chris Hope arrived in the third round. One year later, Colbert recognized future greatness in Troy Polamalu and traded up 11 spots in the first round to secure him.
Polamlau and Hope started next to each other for two years and were integral parts of the defenses that helped the Steelers appear in consecutive AFC championships and win Super Bowl XL following the 2005 season. Polamalu became one of the best safeties of his generation and will someday be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.