According to Steelers right guard David DeCastro, the Steelers hid their intentions well the night of Thursday, April 26, 2012.
In the latest installment of its Draft Day Memories series, Steelers.com reporter Teresa Varley quotes DeCastro as he recalls the events that led into his selection with the 24th overall pick in that draft - perhaps the most surprising and exciting picks the team has made in the Kevin Colbert Era.
I had no idea if the Steelers were interested in drafting me. There is so much smoke and mirrors being played. You couldn’t even think or worry about who was going to take you, being there are so many trades and variables and things that can happen and needs can change around by the time of somebody’s pick.
The Steelers were rumored to have had a trade-up deal in place for DeCastro with the New York Jets at 16. The Jets backed out of the deal at the last minute, but DeCastro fell to 24 anyway.
By the time the Titans drafted at No. 20, and took Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright, faint glimmers of hope that DeCastro may fall to 24 began surfacing.
BTSC had a post written at that point, the words "DREAMS CAN COME TRUE" was copied/pasted several dozen times (headline: Dreams can come true), but a computer malfunction prevented it from being posted.
We would learn later it wasn't a computer glitch, but rather, the shock the site's servers were taking over a speculative piece on how DeCastro may fall to 24 temporarily froze it. That story is, to this day, still one of the most popular the site has ever created.
Without the time to enjoy the fact Cleveland selected Brandon Weeden at 22, it all came down to Detroit, who very well could have ended the fun one pick short of paydirt.
Instead, the Lions selected Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff. Pandemonium broke out, and we scrawled out a story very quickly in advance of the Steelers taking arguably the best guard prospect in the last 10 years, surprisingly being able to fill their biggest position need with one of the best players in the draft.
We stopped, not wanting to jinx it. Mind working on overload, we saw the commissioner stroll to the podium, thinking there is absolutely no way they are not taking the Stanford guard.
"With the 24th selection in the 2012 NFL Draft ("WHAT?!?") the Pittsburgh Steelers select...David-"
I don't know how the commissioner finished that sentence. It wasn't audible over my yelling.
BTSC's Homer J. wrote how the Steelers finally got their pony for Christmas. I looked into the legality of trademarking the name "Mr. Plow" (The Simpsons already locked in their own phrase).
It was a great moment.
Of course, the moment was DeCastro's.My phone rang around pick 20 and I was picked 24th. I saw a Pennsylvania area code and was thinking, the picks are so far off, but that must have been it. I answered and it was Kevin Colbert and everyone. It was just a blur. It was like what is going on. It’s nice once it’s over with. My dad was quiet; that is how he is. My mom might have cried a little bit, that is how my mom is.