Each NFL team has plenty of what-ifs over draft selections, and the Pittsburgh Steelers may have one in regard to one pick they made several years ago.

The Steelers aimed to revamp the secondary in the 2016 NFL Draft. They drafted cornerback Artie Burns with their first-round pick and later elected to take safety Sean Davis with the No. 58 overall selection. Burns lasted four seasons in Pittsburgh, while the team opted to not re-sign Davis following the 2020 campaign.

If they had the chance to do so, the Steelers possibly would have liked to go back and pick Byard, who was selected with the No. 64 overall pick by the Titans. Over his six seasons so far with Tennessee, Byard has not missed a single game and has tallied for 23 career interceptions.

Ahead of the Titans’ upcoming Week 15 matchup against the Steelers, Byard took some time to preview this clash, where he also revealed he was “upset” that head coach Mike Tomlin did not meet with him at the 2016 Senior Bowl.

Article Continues Below
Related News
Aaron Rodgers, who did not attend the Pittsburgh Steelers' first day of OTAs, smiling.
Joy Taylor rips Aaron Rodgers after Steelers OTA no-showAndrew Korpan ·
Terry Bradshaw at Fox Sports media day at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Terry Bradshaw blasts Steelers for Aaron Rodgers interestBen Strauss ·
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) prepares for a game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Steelers rumors: Ryan Clark’s savage Allen Iverson mic drop on Kirk CousinsBenedetto Vitale ·
Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph (11) looks to pass during the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars held off the Titans 20-13.
Steelers’ Mason Rudolph gets real on QB1 job amid Aaron Rodgers buzzJake Faigus ·
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is shown after he led Gang Green to a 32-20 victory against the Miami Dolphins, on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Ryan Clark sounds off on Steelers downfall amid Aaron Rodgers chaseBen Strauss ·
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is shown after he led Gang Green to a 32-20 victory against the Miami Dolphins.
Steelers rumors: Mike Florio hits Pittsburgh with ‘obvious’ Aaron Rodgers realityBenjamin Adducchio ·

“I actually played there in 2017 on Thursday Night game, we got beat pretty bad,” Byard said. “It’s always good to play against the gold and black. Got a lot of respect for Ben Roethlisberger.

“Mike Tomlin, he said some pretty good things about me. I actually texted my dad, I was kind of joking with him because down at the Senior Bowl, you know, Mike Tomlin was down there… And they didn’t meet with me. I was kind of upset by that, but it is what it is.”

Earlier this week, Tomlin lauded Byard and his physicality as a safety, where he also noted that he has “kicked” himself for not paying more attention to the former Middle Tennessee star ahead of the draft.

Byard sure would have been a game-changing pick for the Steelers had they drafted him five years ago.