Steelers Made Right Pick in 2006

Three seasons ago, everyone knew the Steelers desperately needed a wide receiver in the draft. It was a glaring enough need that everyone assumed the Steelers would take a wideout in the first round, which meant the Steelers were linked to three names: Santonio Holmes, Chad Jackson and Sinorce Moss.

With Antwaan Randle El leaving in free agency, it was hard to find a mock draft that didn't have the Steelers taking one of the three. And several suggested the Steelers would trade up to get Jackson.

Good job by the Steelers to pick the right guy.

Three years later, Holmes appears ready to challenge for a spot in the Pro Bowl this year. The other two potential Steelers picks rank as big-time busts. Jackson has just been released by the Patriots and Moss just barely made the Giants roster--he was considered in danger of being cut this week.

Holmes was considered the surest bet, based on his extremely productive career at Ohio State. Jackson was considered the riskier pick with the highest upside--as he put on a show at the scouting combine, and Moss was considered a useful wideout/returner, although his size meant he may be more of a slot receiver.Three years later it's amazing how far off scouts were on Jackson and Moss. Moss (21 catches for 223 yards) hasn't been healthy enough to stay on the field, and Jackson, who missed last year with a torn ACL, finished his Patriots career with 13 catches.

That being said, I wonder if the Steelers should try to sign Jackson. He will come pretty cheap, and he still has more upside than Steelers No. 4/5 receiver Dallas Baker (a former teammate of Jackson's at Florida). While Limas Sweed will likely be the Steelers No. 3 receiver by next season, Pittsburgh needs a solid No. 4 wideout for the 2009 season (assuming Nate Washington leaves in free agency). Jackson may be a low cost addition who could fill that need. He ended up finishing the preseason third on the Patriots in catches, and he still has the size and speed to at least be a decent deep threat. The knock on his is that he struggles to learn the playbook and gives inconsistent effort, but as a No. 4 receiver, that's not as big a concern.

And besides. Bill Belichick has spent years signing cast-off Steelers (Chad Scott, Hank Poteat and Chidi Iuwoma for example), with the Patriots on the schedule, it also wouldn't hurt to see what Jackson has to say about the Patriots' playbook.