LATROBE, Pa. -- Tyson Alualu has 87 career starts and signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March as he enters his eighth NFL season. Troy Polamalu Jerseys He's far from a draft bust. But being a top-10 pick engenders a burden that Alualu -- who starred at Cal and was selected 10th overall by Jacksonville in 2010 -- often felt weighing down his 300-pound frame. Those early years when Alualu was failing to rack up sack numbers? That was no joke, he says.

But managing the stress from the perception that you're a bad draft pick actually helped fuel Alualu's longevity, despite a lengthy adjustment. Antonio Brown Jerseys "It probably did turn into stress, hearing people say he's not playing how he should play as a top-10 pick," Alualu told ESPN. Ben Roethlisberger Jerseys "A lot of people don't understand what you do go through, injuries, things that you face. It was tough. You have to stay true to who you are." Heath Miller Jerseys Alualu is at peace with his career knowing he fought to stay on the field and keep himself valuable. Alualu never became a sack master (16.5 QB takedowns in seven years), but he's played in all but two games and is widely considered underappreciated for his run-stopping contributions in Jacksonville, where he played as an end and tackle.

Now positioned as a key reserve on a deep Steelers defensive line, Alualu savors the chance to stick with a winner. He no longer senses concerns from fans over whether he'll play like his draft status suggests he should. But those criticisms never really have left him, either. Le'Veon Bell Jerseys He just learned to spin them positively, relying on his family for positivity until he figured out his NFL identity. "What I've learned, looking back, is you can't let those pressures turn into stress," Alualu said. "It can definitely get to you if you start listening to other people's opinions. You've got to learn to block out the noise and make the most of your opportunities. The good ones know how to use it to their advantage and just kind of ball out."