2nd Mock of the Offseason

In addition, Steelers resign Hampton, Reed, Clark, Eason. The Steelers RFA Colon, Gay, Sepulveda, and Spaeth.

Steelers receive two 5th and one 7th round compensation pick(s).

Steelers pick 18th, but trade down with Green Bay and pick up picks 23 and 87. The Steelers also then trade down with their 2nd round pick for Dallas's 2nd(57) and 4th(126). Finally, they then trade their 5th round pick to Miami and get both of their 6th round picks.

1. OLB Brandon Graham, Michigan
While OLB is not the biggest need for the Steelers......OLB depth sucks. There is none worth mentioning. Graham is the second coming of Lamarr Woodley. He is super strong, and excellent pass rusher, super stout against the run, and can even drop into coverage(though that is not his forte). Graham would finally solve some issues: he would come in and be a good special teams player, he could sub in for a gassed Woodley or Harrison, and depth would finally be established at a position that the 34 defense relies on to be the playmakers.

2. CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
Jackson is unlike most CBs: he is super strong and physical. Jackson is also fast, is very good in coverage, and has good hands. He also possesses very good closing speed and excellent feet when changing directions. Can come out of his backpedal to high at times, but that is minor concern that can easily be corrected. Jackson started at CB as true freshmen in the SEC. Enough said.

3. NT Cam Thomas, North Carolina
Thomas is rare specimen. He has a wide and massive frame at 6'4" 331lbs. He has a good bull rush and rip move, can collapse the pocket, and looks like he could be a potential replacement for Hampton in the near future. Thomas is also surprisingly fit and athletic......he could be a 3 down NT, which is hard to find.


3. FS Major Wright, Florida
Wright is one of the many safeties I like in this year's draft class. Wright is very instinctive. A few times in the Sugar Bowl he hit a player right as they were catching the ball. Wright is very good in coverage, has excellent timed and closing speed, and has very good hands. He can also deliver the knockout punch like Ryan Clark has done for us. He should also have good Combine numbers.

4. G/T John Jerry, Ole Miss
Believe me. Rooney wants to run the football. Jerry should be one hell of RG and a solid starting RT. He is quick off the line, has great size(6'6" 335lbs), and is extremely powerful. He is the ultimate mauler, while is also surprisingly good in pass protection. His first three seasons he played at guard, and was very impressive. He started this last season at RT, and earned All Second Team SEC honors. He has definitely impressed me enough. He would present excellent value here.


4. TE Colin Peek, Alabama
It still continues to amaze me that the media and talking heads refuse to acknowledge Colin Peek. He is major reason that the Crimson Tide's running game was so effective in the BCS National Championship. Peek is an excellent blocker......one of the few excellent blockers that can actually be a dual threat at the next level. Peek has strong and sure hands, and runs very crisp routes. Peek could even push Heath Miller down the road. The Steelers have a chance to bring home a true cornerstone TE if they value Peek's abilities....especially for the TE eccentric Bruce Arians.

5c. G/T Marshall Newhouse, TCU
Newhouse should be flying up boards right now, but my feeling is that he will be overlooked just like Peek above. Newhouse lined up at G, LT, and RT during the East/West Shrine game and practices and did a very good job at all three. Newhouse sizes up at 6'3" 323lbs. In my honest opinion, he can be just as good if not better than Colon. However, he must work on is getting to the second level and knowing who to block. He struggled when he didn't have a defined subject. He is super quick as well, and is a bit of a speedster: while working out in Westlake, he supposedly ran the 40 in under 4.8 seconds. Wow.


5c. OLB Arthur Moats, James Madison
An athletic freak of nature. His coaches rave how much of a complete player he has become: he terrorizes the QB, he is stout against the run, and he can drop into coverage. Sounds like our late round developmental OLB project to me. The Steelers scouts at the Texas vs. The Nation practices have also raved about his great quickness and speed, calling him the next James Harrison.


6. RB Curtis Steele, Memphis
Steele has made his presence known during the Texas vs. The Nation week. He is a complete back, is super quick and elusive, and can churn out yards in the middle. I think he will be a very nice complement to Mendenhall down the road.


6. CB Chris Hawkins, LSU
Hawkins has played lights out during the Texas vs. The Nation week. He has blanketed every receiver all week, has shown great hands, and is excellent in coverage. I think he could turn out to be a poor man's Ike Taylor down the road.



6. DE Clifton Geathers, South Carolina
He is big and athletic, and shows some promise as a 34DE. He is a decent pass rusher and is solid against the run. He also has rare size at 6'7" 283lbs, who can run the 40 at a low 4.8.


7. ILB Phillip Dilliard, Nebraska
Dilliard really impressed me at the Big 12 Championship Game versus Texas. Dilliard made plays all over the field, impressed against the run, and showed he could hold his own coverage too. He is also a very good tackler.

7c. WR Marcus Easley, Connecticut
You know this guy is going to work hard - he was a walk-on and had just five receptions entering the year. As a senior, he logged 48 catches for 893 yards and eight touchdowns. This sounds like the classic Steelers type of player.


UDFAs
OLB George Johnson, Rutgers
OLB Christian Anthony, Grambling
TE Jeff Cottam, Tennessee
LB Danny Batten, South Dakota State
OT Tyler Eastman, Maine
OT Roman Harwood, Morehouse
OL Nick Howell, USC
S Aaron Webster, Cincinnati
DE Sean Lissemore, William and Mary
SS Austin Thomas, Indiana
CB Ray Fisher, Indiana
CB R.J. Stanford, Utah

My future OL would consist of LT Max Starks, LG Chris Kemoeatu(as of now), C Doug Legursky, RG John Jerry, RT Marshall Newhouse. Peek would step in immediately and replace Matt Spaeth as the #2 TE.