As if bringing back two former Steelers already this offseason wasn’t enough, Saturday the Steelers brought back number three, acquiring CB Bryant McFadden from the Cardinals in exchange for the No. 155 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
McFadden left the Steelers after the Super Bowl win to join the team the Steelers beat in Super Bowl XLIII, but simply wasn’t very good in Arizona, failing as a starter during his one-year stay with the Birds, but he was an effective nickel back and fill-in corner with the Steelers while with them. He should get the chance to start opposite Ike Taylor in a weak Steelers secondary, competing with William Gay and Keenan Lewis.
The move again means that you can for sure bet that the Steelers and fans have seen the last of DeShea Townsend, who remains on the free agent market.
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Cecil
April 24, 2010 at 12:37 pm
this is the worst draft i have ever seen by the steelers. they picked 3 OLB’s that i gaurentee will never see the field on a regular basis.
love seeing mcfadden back i guess but i wish the steelers would have gone in a different direction with their picks.
DrGeorge
April 24, 2010 at 2:20 pm
B. McFadden is an insurance policy and a stop-gap measure, The Steelers passed on a CB in the draft, because this class of CBs was very thin and very few rookie CBs are able to step in and play immediately. With all their needs, the Steelers couldn’t possibly address them all through the draft. This is a good strategic move for the short term. Next year, we can go for a franchise CB.
However, the CB position remains weak even with McFadden. Deshea Townsend is as good as gone; William Gay is not effective and should be cut; and Keenan Lewis is better suited to Safety. The Steelers drafted Crezdon Bulter (Clemson) at CB in Round 6, but I suspect they will try to deal for an experienced CB after the draft.
The Steelers recognized the need to put more pressure on opposing QBs in order to take the pressure off their weak corners. The two OLBs drafted are both capable of doing that in the same way Indy uses Freeney, another smallish OLB, as a DE. With the pass-happy NFL rules and the run and shoot offenses, there is a new premium on speed on the defensive line and at linebacker, especially on obvious passing downs. The Steelers are trying to respond to that. Opposing QBs simply had too much time last year.
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mark
April 24, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Bringing B-Mac back to Pittsburgh was a solid move. He can start immediately on the other side of Taylor and it automatically improves the secondary. B-Mac is a veteran, but a young one. Lewis and Burnett will see more action this season in the nickle and dime and Gay becomes the 3rd corner, where he fit better in 2008. Townsend is gone and probably Carter as well. A youth infusion is/was needed, but with that comes inexperience as we all know. B-Mac allows the team to solidify corner without subjecting Lewis,Burnett,Gay or Butler to the perils they would be seeing in the pass-happy league.
Mike
April 25, 2010 at 11:47 am
Agree with Dr. George and Mark. Although he will never be confused with Revis, MacFadden was and will be more effective solution for our corner woes. I didn’t like to see him leave via free agency before, but I understood why the Steelers didn’t sign him to that big of a contract.