Mocking the Steelers: Four Scenarios, Multiple Options

With the draft less than a week away, it's time to start firming up the draft boards. When the draft begins, the Steelers will have multiple needs, although thankfully there is no position where the Steelers don't bring back a projected starter with some experience.

The Steelers bigger need is to plan ahead for 2010, when free agency could rip apart much of this past year's Super Bowl champs. With that in mind here are four plausible draft classes for the Steelersn as prepared by friend the Steelers draft nut, all of these include no trades. Every player is projected to go in a round where multiple draft experts still have them available on the board. There are a few spots where it is noted that it is less likely that player is still on the board when the Steelers pick in that round, but none of these are absurd stretches. Which of these classes would you prefer and why?MOCK DRAFT SCENARIO #1

1. Eric Wood, C-G, 6-4, 310, Louisville – Bettered equipped to play guard in '09 than Alex Mack and still probably the long-term answer at center. However, unlike Mack, he could be a star at guard and – based on media and team interviews – Wood seems much more willing to play guard than Mack. This would be an ideal scenario where the Steelers first address their major weakness from 2009 – interior offensive line play.

2. Louis Murphy, WR, 6-2, 203, Florida – Has all the physical intangibles but under-achieved at UF in terms of overall production.

3. Alex Magee, DE, 6-3, 298, Purdue – Seems a perfect fit for a 3-4 end, although he would be a first-round pick if he were two inches taller and more consistent.

4. Terrance Taylor, NT, 6-0, 306, Michigan – Boom or bust type who could be the eventual replacement for Hampton, who becomes an unrestricted FA after 09 and will likely not be back.

5. Joe Burnett, CB/PR, 5-9, 192, Central Florida – Steelers brought him in for a visit and could try for a fifth-round steal at CB again like they reeled in with William Gay pick two years ago. Burnett seems like a good fit for the dime and would probably be the No. 1 punt returner from day one, thus helping to keep Santonio Holmes healthy at WR.

5b. Andrew Gardner, OT, 6-7, 304, Georgia Tech – Tremendously deep class of tackles could have this potential starter slipping this late. Very under-rated player who would be a steal at this spot, even though most experts have him available here.

6. C.J. Spillman, FS, 6-0, 197, Marshall – A possible replacement for Ryan Clark. But hard to see him ready by 2010 when Clark is unrestricted. Still, Spillman would represent great value here or maybe even with one of the Steelers' two fifth-round picks.

7. Brannan Southerland, FB, 6-0, 242, Georgia – Battles Carey Davis for fullback job and roster spot in camp. Solid class of fullbacks and few NFL roster spots available for this position, which means someone good will still be around in the seventh, maybe the versatile Southerland, who battled injuries as a senior.

7b. Frank Summers, RB, 5-10, 230, UNLV – With Gary Russell released, there is an opening for a short-yardage specialist and the Steelers' staff seems to like Frank The Tank.

MOCK DRAFT #2

1. Alex Mack, C, 6-4, 311, Cal-Berkeley – Many experts have him ranked as the top center and top interior lineman in this year's draft but Wood's versatility, willingness and ability to start out at guard may have him ranked higher than Mack on the Steelers' board. Mack, though, has a higher ceiling at center, according to most experts.

2. Mike Mickens, CB, 5-11, 184, Cincinnati – Would push for starting job immediately and would have a nice future with his childhood favorite team. Pittsburgh should wait until at least the second round to address cornerback, since Mike Mayock and other draft experts believe none of the corners this year warrant a first-round grade, including Darius Butler, and because Dick LeBeau is very high on William Gay.

3. Derrick Williams, WR/PR, 6-0, 194, Penn State – Local favorite has seen his stock slip recently but could still be a solid No. 3 wide receiver and above average punt returner.

4. Sebastian Vollmer, OT, 6-8, 312, Houston – All over various draft boards from the third round to undrafted free agent. Has a high ceiling but is raw.

5. Curtis Taylor, FS, 6-2, 209, LSU – Would represent good value here from a physical standpoint but did not play much until later in his college career due to Laron Landry.

5b. Roy Miller, NT, 6-2, 312, Texas – Can he be a 3-4 NT remains a question, but he is very strong, which is a key component of requiring double teams.

6. Zach Potter, DE, 6-7, 279, Nebraska – Potter fits the Steelers' approach to drafting defensive ends, draft them tall and light and then let them bulk up and develop. It's an approach that worked with Brett Kiesel and Aaron Smith. Even though he is generally rated around this area in the draft, there is a chance Potter may go higher due to the lack of 3-4 ends available and increasing number of teams playing the 3-4. With more teams playing the 3-4, the last few draft classes have shown how hard it is to get a good DE in the second day.

7. Jorvorskie Lane, RB, 6-0, 285, Texas A&M – Could be a very good short-yardage specialist and not much else.

7b. Spencer Adkins, 5-11, 231, LB, Miami – Athletic but short linebacker who may have to spend rookie season on the practice squad due to the Steelers' depth and returning everyone at LB.

MOCK DRAFT #3

1. Eben Britton, OT, 6-6, 309, Arizona – The most unlikely player in these four mocks to be around when the Steelers' pick, especially now that Buffalo has the No. 28 selection. However, six tackles went in the first round last year and teams that pick later are generally thinking Super Bowl, and thus may want someone more ready to be a day-one starter than Britton. This would be a situation of the Steelers' taking the highest player on the board, and he could start in 2010 on either side depending on the futures of Max Starks and Willie Colon.

2. Filli Moala, DE, 6-4, 305, USC – Not a star but serviceable as a 3-4 end. Was his lack of production at USC due to having so many great LBs around him, or because he is not that good? It would be great to see Internet sensation Jaron Gilbert from San Jose State in this spot, but it's hard to believe he'll be around this late in the second round.

3. Antonio Caldwell, C-G, 6-3, 309, Alabama – Versatile athlete who should challenge Darnell Stapleton for a starting OG job in 2009 and then likely replace Justin Hartwig at center in 2010.

4. Lardarius Webb, CB/KR, 5-10, 179, Norfolk State – Small-school athlete has great potential. That approach worked out well for Pittsburgh when they drafted corner Ike Taylor, but not so good when they drafted corner Ricardo Colclough.

5. Kenny McKinley, WR, 6-0, 189, South Carolina – Highly productive, versatile athlete in the SEC but has a thin frame.

5b. Richard Quinn, TE, 6-4, 264, North Carolina – After resigning Sean McHugh, the Steelers are seemingly set at tight end. But Matt Spaeth is a poor short-yardage blocking tight end and that is the area where Quinn excels. A lot of experts have him still around at this spot, but I think he will be gone due to a lack of solid blocking TEs in a class filled with hybrid athletes.

6. Arian Foster, TB, 6-0, 226, Tennessee – I still cannot believe many experts have him available here or even later. Foster was very productive in the SEC for a bad passing team and was projected as a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick had he entered the 2008 NFL draft before his disappointing senior season.

7. Anthony Parker, OG, 6-2, 297, Tennessee – Like most guards in this draft, experts have varying opinions on Parker, who may still be around here and is fairly athletic.

7b. Dre'Mail Hardin, FS, 6-1, 196, Stillman – Small-school sleeper can hit, which is a prerequisite for playing for Dick LeBeau.

MOCK DRAFT #4

1. Hakeem Nicks, WR, 6-1, 212, North Carolina – Yes, it is hard to see him get through both the Ravens' and Titans' picks at the bottom of the first round, but he is almost never projected above 25 and could slip due to a lack of breakaway speed and because teams may like other WRs more. Hines Ward is aging and the Steelers know Big Ben and their passing game is the team's future, so why not give their $100 million+ franchise player another weapon?

2. Phil Loadholt, OT, 6-8, 332, Oklahoma – Max Starks, your negotiating value just went way down since we drafted your physical clone. Actually, though, this mammoth OT fits much better at RT, meaning that Colon could finally go inside to OG in 2010 if there is no cap (meaning Willie does not become an unrestricted free agent) or is allowed to walk as an free agent without an offer if a deal is reached.

3. DeAngelo Smith, CB/FS, 5-11, 197, Cincinnati – Fits well in zone coverage but may eventually end up at safety due to a lack of top-line speed. However, didn't many people say the same thing about Deshea Townsend?

4. Kyle Moore, DE, 6-5, 272, USC – Has the frame to be a good 3-4 end, but was not overly productive at Southern Cal and some question his toughness.

5. C.J. Davis, OG, 6-2, 308, Pitt – This local favorite would be good value here, especially in a terrible class of OGs.

5b. A.Q. Shipley C, 5-11, 297, Penn State – Some think this highly productive, tenacious college player will be drafted higher, but it is a strong, deep center class and offensive linemen under 6-feet are now anomalies in the NFL.

6. Stryker Sulax, 6-4, 251, OLB, Missouri – Kevin Colbert cannot resist taking 3-4 OLBs. However, the strength of this draft are LBs, especially 3-4 rush OLBs. Sulax would probably go at least one or two rounds higher in most years.

7. P.J. Hill, 5-10, 222, RB, Wisconsin – Another potential short-yardage specialist.

7b. Marlon Favorite, NT, 6-1, 314, LSU – He either sticks around as the seventh defensive lineman on the roster or as a practice-squad player this year. The hope is that this late-round flyer can share the NT spot in 2010 with Chris Hoke, who will likely be resigned after this season.