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2008 Re-Draft: Steelers take DL Red Bryant, Rashard Mendenhall not in first round

Perhaps Mendenhall wasn't the right pick for the Steelers at No. 23 overall that year. Bryant would have been an intriguing prospect after displaying some outstanding defensive line play in Seattle over the last six seasons.

By Neal Coolong
Otto Greule Jr

Looking back on drafts of the past is always fun.

Except if you're a Steelers fan, and you're looking back at 2008. In real life, the Steelers selected running back Rashard Mendenhall, which was thought to be a "best player available" kind of pick at No. 23 overall.

Mendenhall was alright in his five seasons with the Steelers. He managed 4,210 yards from scrimmage in five years with the Steelers (3,549 rushing yards) and 39 touchdowns in that time.

According to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., it wasn't enough for the Steelers to select Mendenhall again, if the 2008 NFL Draft was re-done today.

Seattle's Red Bryant, a 6-foot-5 328-pound defensive end who was taken in the fourth round of that draft is the guy Kiper sends to the Steelers, although hinting that 23 overall might be a little high for Bryant.

Also available were cornerback Brandon Carr, defensive tackle Kendall Langford, offensive tackles Gosder Cherilus and Branden Albert, wide receiver Stevie Johnson, tight end JerMichael Finley and RB Jonathan Stewart - as far as the remaining players Kiper selected in his re-ax mock draft.

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