Steelers Use Threesome of Picks in the Third to Add Players

Draft day #2 for the Steelers saw them go full swing, as they used the two third-round picks from the Broncos as well as their own to draft a couple of players that will add some depth to their Super Bowl winning roster from a season ago.

The first pick in the third round, number 79 overal, was Kraig Urbik, a 6-5, 328 pound guard from Wisoncsin. Reports on Urbik say that he has the size and height of a guard, but is a bit slow, and will have to develop that in the pro game to get better. He earned consecutive second team All-Big 12 honors during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He is also very durable, as he never missed a game as a starter in his last three seasons with Wisconsin.

We talked a lot about the Steelers adding help on the O-line, and with going D-line in round one, adding a guard is a solid move. Let’s hope Urbik can round out into a solid player that can help open holes and protect Big Ben.

As for the second third round pick, the team went with wide out Mike Wallace from Ole Miss. He 84th overall pick is 6-foot, 199 pounds. Scouts say that he has above average vertical speed, and has overall excellent speed and good enough height and bulk to get separation from corners.

He averaged 18.9 yards on 38 receptions as a junior. In his senior season, he averaged 20.1 yards per reception and scored a career-high seven touchdowns. Had an arm span of 31 3/8 inches and a hand span of 9 inches at the combine. He will add depth to the Steelers WR core.

The teams final third-round pick was corner back Keenan Lewis from Oregon State. He was the 32nd pick of the third round and 96th overall. In most areas of importance, Lewis showed above average skills that could make him a sleeper pick at this point in the draft.

One concern about Lewis is his injury history, as he took a helmet to his knee vs Arizona in midseason of 2007, and while he did start 11 games that year, the injury held him back according to reports. After two seasons of battling injuries, Lewis had a healthy senior campaign, establishing himself as one of the most physical cornerbacks in the West. He has a strong work ethic and team-first attitude, which fits the Black and Gold.

“Keenan is one of those Cinderellas,” said Terry Wilson, Lewis’ former head coach at Walker High. “I always knew Keenan was going to be good at whatever he chose to do because he always worked hard. He’s always had a strong work ethic. He was just a pleasure to coach.”