The NFL Draft opened up Thursday night and by virtue of their runner up finish in the 2010 season, the Steelers had to wait until pick number 31 before making their selection.
Many fans out there believed the Steelers biggest needs were cornerback and offensive line. Unfortunately for the Steelers, a shutdown cornerback is usually going to get picked well before the end of the first round, and this held true in the 2011 draft. Also, as he continued to fall, many Steelers fans held out hope that the big tackle Gabe Carimi out of Wisconsin might somehow make it to 31, but unfortunately the Bears snatched him up 2 picks ahead of the Black and Gold.
Once the Steelers got on the clock, it didn't take them very long to hand in the pick. As a fan of the Steelers, I tend to love their picks when they make them that quickly in the first round. Cameron Heyward, a big time Defensive End from Ohio State was now part of the Steelers.
I remember how well this kid played against Penn State, and given the age of the current Steelers D up front, this pick along with Ziggy Hood is finally showing an investment in the future of the defensive line.
My only expectation for the Steelers after the pick was that I hoped they would address the Offensive line and secondary in the next two rounds.
Prayers answered!
I love the second round pick of Marcus Gilbert for several reasons. He's a big time tackle prospect who has also shown versatility by playing everywhere on the line except center at Florida. A nice intangible to this pick is the fact that he is very good friends with his college teammate, Maurkice Pouncey. It's just good to finally see the Steelers invest some high picks on the offensive line, especially the Pouncey pick last year.
Let's move on to the third round. You obviously never know for sure until the pick is made, but I really felt the Steelers would take a cornerback here in round three. Sure enough, Curtis Brown's name was called. The kid has some experience playing in some big games for a big time college program, and I am already hearing arguments that he wasn't thrown at much at Texas because of how well he covers.
This is another area of need where higher draft picks needed to be spent. The Steelers idea of trying to make later round gems work has left the Steelers with players like Joe Burnett, Crezdon Butler, and William Gay and Keenan Lewis filling up the depth chart. If you were a wide receiver facing those guys, would you be scared? I didn't think so.
The biggest thing about the Steeler draft so far is that they have not reached for needs. They got the best player available in Heyward, and got a big time offensive lineman in the second. They got a corner that might need a bit of work, but you could see him becoming a big part of this secondary later this year and possibly starting by 2012.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the draft brings for the Steelers.
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