My Mock from 1/12

[Ian]

Honestly, I would love to see the Steelers take an offensive lineman in the first round. They've really under-invested in their line for the better part of the last decade, but having players like Alan Faneca and Kendall Simmons (both first round picks) carry over from the 90s kept their line strong for the better part of the last decade. The under-investment really showed up the last three years. After Jeff Hartings retired at center there was the failed Sean Mahan experiment (actually, I was of the opinion that we should have drafted Nick Mangold back in '06 instead of Santonio Holmes, but he wound up being Super Bowl MVP, so I can't really complain about how that worked out). Currently, they are starting a 3rd round pick at LT (Max Starks), a 6th round pick at LG (Chris Kemoeatu), Jeff Hartings at center who was a 6th round pick for Tennessee then we got him in Free Agency, a 3rd round pick at RG (Trai Essex), and a 4th round pick at RT (Willie Colon). Colon's contract is up after this year, and I'm on the fence about him. On one hand, he's the best run-blocker we have. On the other hand, he's one of the worst pass-blockers who routinely gets burned on the edge. Given how much Bruce Arians likes to throw the ball, we need a better line in front of Ben to protect him.

Our biggest needs are obviously in the secondary and at offensive coordinator. But since they decided not to give Arians the boot, we're stuck with his inept play-calling for another year. However, I think this draft has a lot of depth at corner and safety (I particularly like Myron Rolle from FSU/Oxford as a mid-round steal for us).

If we do take a lineman, it should be a tackle, given that we took Kraig Urbik (G-Wisconsin) last year in the 3rd round and will have Darnell Stapleton (RG from SBXLIII team) back from IR next year. However, if Mike Iupati is available in the 2nd round as you have him, we should jump all over that because he's an absolute beast. However, I think closer to draft time he is going to sneak up into the first round like how Brendan Albert did a few years ago. Starks played RT to start his career, but he is much better suited as a left tackle because he is left handed and the position is more natural to him for footwork/handwork. Therefore, I really don't see us taking a LT in the first round. That being said, I would love for us to add someone at RT (given that Joe Haden is already off the board) in the first round.

Another factor in our draft is going to be the Casey Hampton situation. He's set to be a free agent and if he hits the market, chances are we won't be able to keep him. If that happens, we're going to need to pick up a big NT to plug up the middle. Hampton is getting old anyways, so getting some depth there might not be a bad thing either. We don't have much behind him on the depth chart (Chris Hoke, Ra'Shon Harris, Scott Paxon).

For me, the ideal draft would go something like RT (Williams, Bulaga or Campbell)-C/G (Pouncey or Iupati) or DB - DB (Rolle)...all that contingent on us keeping Hampton. If not, we might have to go after Price in the 1st.

[vid]

You're right about the Cody pick.. way way too early for him. I love Kindle in the late second, but as it stands right now I doubt he makes it out of the top 20. Decent KC draft but McClain or Berry would be much better picks to KC in the first.

edit: Just noticed this was from early January.

[practicesquad22]

i understand the Terrance Cody pick, but isn't he supposed to be a low first rounder?

I like him, but it seems that most people who know more than me had a lot of bad stuff to say about him, and that was pre weigh-in.

[mikeharman]

Yeah I do understand the concerns about Cody and I have really been waiting to see how he came into the combine. If he were smart he would have taken the Senior Bowl criticism and he would have 20 pounds. If he does show up at the same weight then there is no way he cracks the top-20 of my mock. We'll see very soon though.