Beatty would probably be the best OT pick that we could reasonably get int he first round, probably without even trading up. I saw some of the senior bowl stuff on him and he looked good, maybe good enough to start at RT immediately.

However, Mack may be the best center in the last 5 or 6 years of the draft. He could solidify the inside of the line this year (playing LG maybe…Kemo has probably taken as many points away from us as Colon this year) and be the center of the future. One way to protect Ben would be to open up the interior run game, create the threat of the play action, etc. And seeing Stap and Kemo schooled a couple of time each made me miss having a dominate Guard or Center.

Honestly, it seems to me we should shoot for a superiior interior lineman in the first, which we can probably get without giving up anything, and trade up in the second for the best tackle/guard available. It’ll cost less and if last years draft class has shown us, a projected second round tackle (like Sam Baker for the Falcons) has the potential to start right away (at least at RT).

Man, I love having the problem of drafting last….

Picking Unger or Mack would provide a possible year of learning, playing guard, or moving Hartwig to guard for a year.

Granted we’d want to have Starks nailed down for that to happen.

Alex Boone. He was arrested again for being a drunken idiot! The Steelers would never touch him. Another black eye for the Buckeyes. Thanks Alex!

I believe wholeheartedly they will find their guy and go get him.

You have to figure we’ve traded up before. When we spot a guy we get him.

Case in point (s)

Troy Polamalu didnt fall to us, we snatched him and got a future HOF.
Santa Homie, again they went up for him and he came down with the biggest catch in franchise history.

So to me, if they need to jump they will. And if nobody good is at 32, they could potentially slide down a few spots and get some developmental picks.

Over the years the Steelers have consistently plugged a few holes with FAs who were not headliners, just useful players. That probably won’t change but it is certainly nice to fantasize about what signing a Jordan Gross would do. The only other OT of note is Vernon Carey (Miami) who switched from LT to RT this year.

Aside from the obvious Gross, the three guys who catch my eye on the FA list are DEs Antonio Smith (Arizona) and Chris Canty (Dallas), and C-G Jason Brown (Baltimore). The problem with signing a DE is that he has to be demonstrably better than Kiesel to justify the money it would take to sign him, and that’s no sure thing. Smith might be worth it because it’s not easy to find a good 3-4 DE in the draft (ie, Ryan McBean). Brown is huge (6-3, 320), young (26 in May) and versatile (starter at guard and center), an immediate improvement at any of our three interior OL positions.

Now let’s not forget every year mock drafts are terribly inaccurate and always seem to be thrown for loops come draft day.
My point is that although everyone projects the Steelers to pick an OL or Tyson Jackson, there’s really no telling who will fall to the Steelers at the end of the last round.
What if Tyson Jackson is drafted a few spots before us?
What if the only OL prospects available are obvious reaches?
What if we sign a few free agents to fill needs at certain positions? (add youth to D-line/strengthen OL)
It’s the beauty of the offseason and the draft!
There’s really no telling what will happen.
Let’s face it, every year a top10 talent seemingly “slips” down to the lower part of the first round. Let me play the devil’s advocate here,
What if Rey Maualuga slips down to the 20’s by some magical way, could you imagine imagine the Steelers doing whatever it takes to trade up and draft Maualuga! (think back to the way we acquired Polamalu)
I am extrememly excited for the draft seeing as how every year things go for some crazy trun and an outstanding talent falls to the Steelers. I will just have to wait and see!

True statement. This is why the draft is so sweet.

My thing is, and I stand by this. If you get to your pick and you dont really feel excited about anybody right that second, and dont want to reach, trade your ass down and get them extra developing picks.

I think this will be a good year and having some extra picks will help us draft upwards.

Besides, nobody from last years draft has showed up yet so its gonna be like having 2 in one!

In my opinion, it would be nice if we got back to running with a true fullback, ie Brannan Southerland out of Georgia… He blocked for one of the best running backs in the nation last year in Knowshon Moreno, who’s productivity went up dramatically with Branna back in the lineup. Unfortunately, Bruce “3TE set” Arians won’t ever go for it.

We have a 3rd round comp pick for Faneca. Would you package both 3rd round picks for a mid to low 1st rd pick in addition to the 32nd? and do you think Colbert would?

According to the trade value chart, that package of picks (No. 32 overall plus the two late third-rounders) would move the Steelers up to about 21st overall. Throw Foote into the equation and maybe the Lions (at No. 20) would make that deal. The key obviously is who is available. If one of the top four OT prospects is still around then it might be a great idea. The Steelers have done it before, trading up seven spots to grab Holmes in 2006, and trading up 12 spots to take Polamalu in 2003.

Appreciate the clarification. Makes it more difficult to add up the trade value numbers (which are just a guide anyway, and rarely followed exactly to the letter on draft day). The extra picks do allow for flexibility though and make it easier to deal.

Didn’t know that.