Ed Bouchette talks draft needs today, and points out the possible need for a defensive linemen with the Steelers current players all over the age of 30.
Granted, Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel weren’t exactly drafted on the first round and they’ve turned out OK, each landing in the Pro Bowl. But Casey Hampton is more the rule than the exception of those guys, a first-rounder who went on to play in multiple Pro Bowls and a 10-year starter.
The Steelers don’t normally draft defensive ends high and when they have, it’s often a disaster (Huey Richardson, Alonzo Jackson, ) but they seem to have done OK with Ziggy Hood two years ago. Richardson and Jackson were college defensive ends who could not convert to outside linebacker in the 3-4. Another bad pick was Aaron Jones at defensive end in 1988.
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DrGeorge
April 17, 2011 at 12:00 pm
The Steelers have needs at every defensive position except OLB. They can’t plug all the gaps through the draft, especially with the 31st pick. The status of the CBA clouds the issue too. The Steelers will probably select the best available defensive player that fits the scheme in Rounds 1 and 2. So much depends on who is available at the time of the pick and what players the Steelers lose through free agency. I would expect this draft to be skewed toward the defense, but the quality and type of player available at the time affects how much can be done through the draft.