What the Steelers WON'T Take Tonight | perfect360's Blog

After following the Steelers draft for years, it's pretty clear, it's almost impossible to predict who/what they'll take in a given round. About the only sure thing is they'll take some QB in late rounds who has little chance of making the team, as it seems they do every year. The difficulty in predicting the draft lies in the fact they usually will take the best available, or trade up down to get a guy they really want at the value they think he's worth. Case in point, last year. Who had them taking an RB in round 1, OL was about as much a guarantee as you have with the Steelers, but I'm guessing they didn't feel any OL available was worth the 23 overall pick. So on to round 2, they just had to address the OL there, right? Wrong again, they go WR in round two, then OLB in round 3, waiting until the 4th to go OL. So, the major speculation over the last month is it's either DL, OL or CB. Well, that likely changed yesterday with the unsexy and only FA signing this year, CB Keiwan Ratliff, most recently of the Colts. Not going to make any waves, but he adds depth, which was the main concern at CB given Gay seems primed to step into McFadden's starting slot. So that leaves it at OL or DL. For once, I think the Steelers don't take the best available, and barring any guys falling to 32 that aren't expected, I think they go DL with the first pick, which may or may not end up being number 32 overall. While the Steelers management apparently has a different view of the OL than most fans do, the age of the Steelers DL, both the starters and reserves, cannot be denied. If they don't address it now, they could find themselves in the position of having to overpay for FAs and/or throw future rookies right into the starting lineup. This very well could be mirror the 2007 draft when they had a need at LB, and took Timmons and Woodley 1 and 2. Given both Hampton and Keisel are FAs after this year, the urgency is there to make the Steelers draft for position rather than best available. That being said, don't be surprised if they're extremely active on draft day, moving up and down. Regardless of urgency, I don't see them taking a guy at 32 that they feel would otherwise be available in the 40's. So the day's finally here, and sometime, late this evening, the Steelers will undoubtedly prove me wrong and find a way to draft Vontae Davis in round 1.

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April 25, 2009 03:58 PM ET

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Steelers just supposedly signed Ward to an extension, opening up cap room. Gotta wonder about the timing, maybe they're freeing up cap room for some wheeling and dealing?

perfect360

Pittsburgh , PA

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April 25, 2009 10:03 PM ET

Well, traded their 2nd and 4th round picks for Denver's 15th and 20th picks in the 3rd round, not bad. I'm guessing they felt at least one of the guys they were going to pick would be available mid way in the 3rd round. Plus, they get a 3rd rounder instead of the last pick in the 4th. Not bad at all.