The Perfect Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

The Steelers are never big players in free agency, so the draft is of vital importance to the Steelers ability to contend year in and year out. With two Lombardi trophies and another AFC Championship appearance in the past five years, it's clear that Kevin Colbert and the Steelers' scouting department have done their job well.

The Steelers rarely draft players to start right away. Even 2003 first-round pick Troy Polamalu played only sporadically as a rookie and last year's top two picks, Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed, will be asked to play much bigger roles in 2009 than they did in 2008.While the Steelers have holes on the offensive line, it's highly likely that this year's draft will be no different. With a slew of key players like Willie Parker, Heath Miller, Willie Colon, Max Starks and Hines Ward entering the final year of their contracts, the Steelers need to land several players who can step in and start in 2010.


Eric Wood: The Steelers managed to win the Super Bowl in spite of their offensive line. For Ben Roethlisberger's longevity, Pittsburgh has to improve the line's pass blocking, but the team's suddenly inept running game also needs bigger holes. The team could use a long-term answer at tackle, guard and center, so the Steelers can take the best available lineman no matter where on the line that lineman plays. But considering the run on offensive tackles that happens every year, it's likely that the best available lineman will be their pick from three highly regarded centers.

The three top centers, Wood, Alex Mack and Max Unger, all have different strengths and weaknesses. Mack is the most technically proficient center, Unger is the most versatile while Wood is the strongest. Wood seems like the best fit for Pittsburgh, as he is also comfortable playing guard, which is his most likely spot in 2009 before returning to center in 2010 when Justin Hartwig's contract ends.


Pittsburgh lost starting cornerback Bryant McFadden to the Cardinals in free agency and nickel back Deshea Townsend is aging which leaves the Steelers in need of a cornerback. Many mock drafts have the Steelers taking a corner in the first round, but William Gay's emergence means that Pittsburgh does not need a corner to step in and start, and the strength of this year's cornerback draft seems to be more in second and third-round talents, as there aren't many corners who are worthy of a first-round pick. Mike Mickens, Asher Allen or one of several other second and third-round options seems like a better fit than taking D.J. Moore or Darius Butler in the first round.

The Steelers head into the 2009 season without a starting or key backup defensive lineman who is younger than 30, so it's time for Pittsburgh to add some youth to the front three. Pittsburgh has tried to add depth by drafting second-day defensive ends in 2005, 2006 and 2007, but none of those picks managed to stick on the Steelers roster. Pittsburgh hasn't drafted a defensive lineman who's made a contribution since 2002, when they drafted Brett Keisel in the seventh round. Because of the need, it's time for Pittsburgh to take a defensive lineman a little earlier this year than it has in recent years. USC's Fioli Miola seems to have the size and speed the Steelers look for at defensive end and would be a nice second-round pick if he manages to fall that far, but it also wouldn't be surprising if Pittsburgh drafted a late-round project like San Jose State's Jeff Schweiger as well.