Pittsburgh could use first pick on DB
The Steelers suffered what many believe was a key loss when free safety Chris Hope signed with the Tennessee Titans, but if the Steelers were that worried about losing Hope they would have made a better effort to keep him. Instead, the Steelers reacted by grabbing Redskins starter Ryan Clark to replace Hope. Clark is expected to battle Tyrone Carter and Mike Logan for the starting job behind strong safety Troy Polamalu.
At cornerback, the Steelers are hoping to reap the benefits of draft picks spent over the last two years. Ike Taylor is a starter opposite Deshea Townsend, with Bryant McFadden and Ricardo Colclough hovering.
Yet, it is likely the Steelers will again use a high draft choice on a safety or cornerback. That’s how good this year’s crop of defensive backs is. The group rates a B+ grade by most scouting services, which means there is quality at the top and at least through the middle rounds.
It’s so deep, in fact, that the Steelers like the middle better than the top. All NFL teams become bargain shoppers this time of the year and the Steelers may find bargains in the second, third or even fourth round that would both cost less and allow them to address other needs in the earlier rounds.
There are a few players the Steelers would at least consider with their first-round pick, the 32nd and last selection of the first round.
Many projections have the Steelers taking Tennessee safety Jason Allen at No. 32. Allen may fall that far because he is coming off a dislocated hip that prematurely ended his 2005 season. In that sense, he is similar to tight end Heath Miller, whom the Steelers picked at No. 30 last year even though he needed sports hernia surgery. Miller’s success as a rookie might convince the Steelers this gamble is worth taking, too.
Earlier projections had the Steelers picking South Carolina safety Ko Simpson, but he has fallen out of the first round. At 6-1, 209, he has nice size, but is thinly built and can be dragged by receivers and running backs he is trying to tackle.
Moving up the charts, coincidentally, is USC safety Darnell Bing and he has become the flavor of the day. At 6-2, 227, Bing has the size to play cornerback or safety and is a good special teams player.
A little farther down, perhaps in the second round, the Steelers would be interested in another up-and-comer, Abilene Christian’s Danieal Manning. He made a name for himself in post-season all-star games, adequately dispelling concerns about the level of competition he faced in college. Manning is said to be a ball hawk in the secondary and a good blitzer, two qualities the Steelers like in their secondary. He also is a return specialist.
There aren’t many differences between those mentioned above and the players who will be picked before them. The best cornerbacks are South Carolina’s Johnathan Joseph, Virginia Tech’s Jimmy Williams and Florida State’s Antonio Cromartie, who may be a first-round pick despite starting only one game in his college career.
The top safeties – Texas’ Michael Huff, Ohio State’s Donte Whitner and Nebraska’s Daniel Bullocks – aren’t much better than the players who should fall to the Steelers. If Bullocks drops, the Steelers may be interested in the second round.
Pitt’s Josh Lay is an intriguing second-day prospect.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Eighth in a series about the Steelers and the upcoming NFL Draft, to be held Saturday and Sunday. Today: Secondary)
(NEXT: Predicting the first day)