My Top 11 Prospects for our First Round Pick

by seton hall and steelers on Feb 10, 2012 5:27 PM EST

Today I am going to look at my 11 favorite targets for our first round pick. Some are dreams, while others are very realistic.

The Dreams:

Number 1: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford - DeCastro is rated as a top 15 prospect and rightfully so. However, if the Cardinals and Cowboys pass on him at 13 and 14, we should make an aggressive move up to 15 to jump the Jets and the Bengals (who would both take him in a heartbeat) and grab DeCastro.

Number 2: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College - Kuechly seems to be solidly cemented as a top 20 pick, however, I could see him falling on draft day. If the Eagles pass him up at 15 (highly unlikely), I see him being available to us unless someone trades up because the teams picking from 16 to 23 don't need a LB. Kuechly is a brilliant player that is always around the ball and I would love to land him.

Number 3: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama - While CB is not a big need at all, Kirkpatrick is a stud. He is a top 10 talent but a failed marijuana test could cause him to fall. If he is still available around 18 to 20, we should jump up and nab him as he is an absolute lock-down corner.

Realistic Targets:

Number 4: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina - Jeffery's stock is all over the place. Some have him in the top ten, while others, laughably have him in the 2nd round. If he is there at 24 (I would not like trading up for him) and none of the above three are there, I want the Steelers to take him.

Number 5: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State: With Max Starks torn ACL and the fact that the we don't know if Gilbert can play on the left side, LT might have become a need. Even if it is not a huge need, passing on a true LT prospect that is very good would be impossible to do.

Number 5: Peter Konz, OG/OC, Wisconsin - Konz is the second best interior OL prospect in the draft. He is versatile and talented and would be an immediate upgrade to either of our guards.

Number 6: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama - Hightower is a thumper of an LB built in the mold of a James Farrior. He could spend a year learning from Farrior and then replace him.

Number 7: Mohammed Sanu, WR, Rutgers - Sanu is an elite WR prospect that can do it all. He has good size, above average speed, good hands, and is a good route runner. He broke the Big East record for receptions (Larry Fitzgerald held the record) without a viable D-1 FBS starting caliber QB. He will be a stud in the NFL.

Number 8: Mark Barron, S, Alabama - Barron is the top safety prospect in the draft but has a leg injury and won't be able to participate until June-July. However, for us, all he will have to do is play special teams as a rookie so this is fine. Barron projects as a fantastic, play-making safety that can knock a WR out with relative ease.

Only if we can't trade down

Number 9: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia - While some are very high on Glenn, I view him as a borderline first round prospect. However, he would be an upgrade over either of our guards but I would feel a lot better trading down to the 30-34 range to take him.

Number 10: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis - Poe is the best NT in the draft but I don't like him at 24. He is an early 2nd round pick in my opinion and if we could trade down to a team with two second round picks I would love to do that.

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Comments

You can pretty much guarantee they aren’t going to take a WR in the 1st round. Might want to get those guys off their list.

And yes, I know Wallace is a FA, but when is the last time the Steelers let a FA that they wanted to keep who was in his prime go? I think you’d have to go back to Chad Brown for that.

by Cols714 on Feb 10, 2012 6:16 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, but I understand his point with the WR.

Best player available, and we do need a big receiver… all of our guys are shorter, split end/slot guys. Jeffrey at flanker, Wallace at split end, and Brown in the slot, with Miller at TE? We’d kill. It’s like the prototype combo of players.

by JDSpartan on Feb 10, 2012 7:20 PM EST up reply actions

Tough call

as a USC alum, I can tell you that Alshon Jeffrey is pretty amazing. However, assuming he pans out and of course you would not draft a first rounder that you would not expect to, we could only afford two of the four WRs (Wallace, Brown, Sanders, and Jeffrey) after their rookie contracts expire.

Therefore, I would see one of two things happening if they (appear to) have serious interest in Jeffrey or another WR.

1) Leak said information, and the take trade offers if he falls
2) Take a WR and look to trade Wallace

"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."

-- so says Rex Ryan.

by sctx109 on Feb 13, 2012 8:27 AM EST up reply actions

Glad to see Barron up in there.

You gonna do the 2nd round?

Stay thirsty my friends.

by SteelerMessican on Feb 10, 2012 6:54 PM EST reply actions

Yes. Next week sometime

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by seton hall and steelers on Feb 10, 2012 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Nice list!

I think if they take WR in 1st that signals that Wallace will walk…or be traded. I still question Hightower’s ability to cover receivers at the pro level…I guess we’ll see if he has the speed and flexibility @ the combine. And Inwould be surprised at a trade up to 15…20, moot so much. Looking forward to the next round.

"We have met the enemy and he is us" - Pogo (1970)

by Andy34 on Feb 10, 2012 11:11 PM EST reply actions

Vontaze

Surprised you dont have Vontaze in your top order here. I guess you are one of the ones that does not like his mentallity?? Personally I love his mentality, I think he will be a beast for years and I just hope its not in a purple uniform with a goofy looking bird on his helmet!

By the way you do some awesome draft stuff on here, you are a true asset!!!!

by 3hypocycloids on Feb 11, 2012 12:32 AM EST reply actions

the lines are priority

I understand that you have luxury picks like Jeffery, Kuechly, Kirkpatrick and Sanu. The focus should be on both defensive and offensive line. Dontari Poe is a beast in the mold of Haloti Ngata and he would be a blessing to have learning from Big Snacks for a year. Kuechly reminds me of Keith Brookings, very productive but he is the best lacker 4 yardds down field. He is a litle too light for what we need. They will bring a vet WR in and pick one in the late rounds. They also have the usual regulars return to camp that could finally make the team this year. Adams or Zeitler would be a blessing for the OL, so with Haley now in place he could push for one of those guys if available ( not ) by 24. Look for the Steelers to go DL in 1st and OL in 2nd rd.

by ga-steeler on Feb 11, 2012 2:27 AM EST reply actions

Yes - The lines...except

Adams, Glenn, Poe or Hightower. We HAVE to get stronger up front. Hightower may be the exceptional player who is rated so high that we have take him. (I do agree that he will be scrutinized at the combine for his knee and ability to cover.) I do like the idea of DB but I was thinking Safety in Rnd 3-4. In Rounds 3-5 there will some interesting choices to make-there seems to be a lot of solid players on the O-Line, DB, TE & WR.
I hate to say it but it doesn’t it seem like Vontaze is destined for the Ravens?

by 21Clemente on Feb 11, 2012 10:02 AM EST reply actions