The Cleveland Browns re-entered the NFL for the 1999 season to give the league 31 teams for the first time. Here is the complete history of the 31st pick of the first round, which is the selection the Steelers own in the 2011 NFL Draft.
| Year | Player | Pos | Team |
| 2010 | Jerry Hughes | DE | indianapolis |
| 2009 | Chris "Beanie" Wells | RB | Arizona |
| 2008 | Choice forfeited* | New England | |
| 2007 | Greg Olsen | TE | Chicago |
| 2006 | Kelly Jennings | CB | Seattle |
| 2005 | Mike Patterson | DT | Philadelphia |
| 2004 | Rashaun Woods | WR | San Francisco |
| 2003 | Nnamdi Asomugha | CB | Oakland |
| 2002 | Robert Thomas | LB | St. Louis |
| 2001 | Todd Heap | TE | Baltimore |
| 2000 | Trung Candidate | RB | St. Louis |
| 1999 | Al Wilson | LB | Denver |
*_Choice was forfeited as part of the NFL's punishment of New England for a violation of the league rule prohibiting the videotaping of the opposing team's sideline.
