STEELERS GOT MIKE REILLY!

I'll be honest, I didn't know much about Mike Reilly until last week when I was talking to Football Outsiders' Doug Farrar, and he mentioned him as possibly the third-best quarterback in this year's draft. And apparently Jaworski was slobbering over Reilly during ESPN's draft coverage.

Anyway, another draft in the books, and this time, DJ, the Steelers got an offensive lineman before the sixth round. And then they got Shipley. SO QUIT COMPLAINING, YOU JERK!

Seriously: on paper, this looks like a solid draft, and hopefully moving back into the third round in '09 will have better results than it did in '06.

Day 2 Means Late-Round OTs!

Well, Day 1 was anticlimactic, although, in retrospect, I'm glad the Steelers didn't reach for third- or fourth-round talents in Round 2. I mean, what Josh McDaniels did the Broncos organization in just a few hours might cement his legacy in Denver.

In any event, Pittsburgh now has three third-rounders and there is, as Kiper's wig might say, some value still on the board.

Round 2!

I will be very upset if the Steelers pull an '06 and they trade their second-round pick.

Steelers Won't Get Matthew Stafford

So there's that. Otherwise, come on ... somebody who can immediately fill a need!

Alright, here are my picks for the Randy Steele Draft Contest. (I know, I know, I forgot to include positions, but, well, there's a 100 percent chance I don't get one point so it won't matter.)

Oh, and depending on how crazy we get in Round 1, I'll throw up a thread for Round 2, as well.

In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the 2008, 2007, and 2006 HSS drafts while you wait for 4PM. (And, yeah, I'm recycling the Big Ben pic. It's that good.)

1.32: Eric Wood; Hakeem Nicks (!), Darius Butler
2.64: Pat White; Ron Brace; Andy Levitre
3.96: Jairus Byrd; Herman Johnson; DJ Moore
4.132: Dorell Scott; Mike Thomas; Gerald Cadogan
5.168: Victor Harris; Juaguin Iglesias; Jonathan Luigs
5.169: Allen Asher; Javarris Williams; Courtney Greene
6.205: Robert Brewster; Patrick Turner; Donald Washington
7.226: Johnny Knox; Joe Burnett; Augustus Parrish; Otis Wiley
7.241: Greg Toler; Brandon Tate; Andy Kemp

FAs: De'von Hall; Worrell Williams; Terrance Knighton

HSS Draft Contest

Okay, Randy has outlined the rules here, and the winner, as always, gets a lifetime subscription to ye olde site. So, in that sense, everybody loses.

I'll have my picks up a little later. (So I can cheat. Obviously.)

19 Days to Go

Something I was thinking about as Jay Cutler whined his way out of Denver: under no circumstances do any of you trade Big Ben for two first-rounders, a third-rounder and Kyle Orton, right? Of course not.

But if he bellyached about his feelings being hurt for six weeks straight, and wasn't returning Mike Tomlin's text messages (good lord), then, well, I'd actually think we'd all be happy if the Steelers got what the Broncos did. Assuming everything else is the same, I suppose Pittsburgh then re-signs Byron Leftwich, maybe makes a play for Mark Sanchez with the 12th-overall pick -- or, even better, drafts a freaking offensive tackle.

Luckily, it's not something we have to worry about, but stuff I contemplate given that nothing else happens this time of year.

It's Almost April

A couple of things:

First, a QOTD courtesy of ELSM: "What should we make of the reports that the Steelers are interested in signing both Leftwich and Batch with Ben and Dixon on the roster already?"

Second: a three-round mock draft!

Carry on.

Comp Picks Formula Sucks

A fifth-rounder? Really? I love Mewelde Moore, but come on.

Woo Hoo!

Steelers re-sign Trai Essex! And Fernando Bryant!

Still not much going on, but that's to be expected. I'd just like the last weekend in April to hurry up and get here already.

Onward, Upward

As per usual, not much going on in the free-agency department, but the Steelers hosted Joey Galloway and Chris Carr this week. I'd be cool with both players, particularly since Carr is a returner. Otherwise, well, here's to hoping Andre Smith falls to the end of the first round. (Actually, I don't expect that to happen.)

Nate Makes More than B-Mac

B-Mac's headed to Pittsburgh West. I'm sorta shocked the Steelers couldn't swing the two years, $10 million, but maybe they didn't want to. Either way, it's disappointing. Until we draft another cornerback in seven weeks, I guess.

Boller AND Big Ben

Ha. I was searching around Google News for some 2004 NFL Combine stories and stumbled across this. It's hard to imagine a world where Big Ben isn't successfully running for his life.

Throwin' Darts

Just to keep the weekend combine conversation going:

... I don't think there's anyway Andre Smith falls to 1.32, either, but I tend to agree with Glenn: if the Steelers do their homework and have faith in the guy, then by all means. One thing that crossed my mind while thinking about this, though: how much more oversight -- both at work and socially -- does a guy like that require?

I mean, it's sort of like school teachers who have to neglect the rest of the class because they're busy dealing with the kid with ADD. By most accounts, players love Tomlin, but if his days are spent making sure Smith has batteries in his alarm clock and not actively motivating the troops or whatever, then that's a problem. But maybe there are guys on staff whose sole job it is to deal with such situations. Maybe Pacman's bodyguards are available since his career is apparently over.

... By the way, how about this: if B-Mac walks, the Steelers bring in Pacman Jones. That's a joke. Unless Pacman and Andre could room together.

... So here's what I was thinking while watching the WRs on Sunday: maybe the Steelers should take Brian Robiskie at 1.32. I don't really think that, but good lord was he impressive (in shorts and t-shirt). Mayock also compared Hakeem Nicks to Hines and Anquan Boldin which is about as nice a compliment as you can pay a wideout.

To recap: I still have no idea who Pittsburgh should grab at 1.32.

COMBINE

I'll be reviewing footage of fat guys in shorts running 40 yards at a time ALL WEEKEND.

Draft Crabtree. NOW.

It sounds like everybody agrees: the Steelers should focus on the offensive/defensive line in the first round. Just like last year, but this time we really mean it. I can't envision a situation where a skill position player falls down the draft board and Pittsburgh takes him (a la Mendenhall last year). Unless ...

It won't happen -- no way -- but for the sake of discussion, assume Michael Crabtree is sitting there at 1.32, the Steelers are taking him, right? Particularly if four or five OLs are already gone? What about if the team's top OL prospect and Crabtree are still available, then what? I could see Pittsburgh still going with the WR using the same thinking they did a year ago: there are a couple ways to protect the QB. Conventially, shore up the o-line. Less conventional: stock the roster with kick-ass skill position players. Plus, it doesn't matter who's blocking, Big Ben's still taking his sacks.

I'm not saying I buy that argument, particularly if the Steelers are in position to take a potential franchise o-lineman, just making up stuff for the sake of stirring the pot. Plus, it's only February.

A lot to Do Between Now and 2010

JJ points out that the Steelers could have bigger free-agency fish to fry in a year's time. (And I'm not even considering the uncapped year scenario).

24-Hour Rule!

Just kidding. But we might as well talk about impending free agency and whatnot. The list, via the PG:

Max Starks
Bryant McFadden
Marvel Smith
Nate Washington
Chris Kemoeatu
Trai Essex
Charlie Batch
Byron Leftwich
Keyaron Fox
Andre Frazier
Orpheus Roye
Mitch Berger
Fernando Bryant

It sounds like B-Mac is a priority, but I'm oddly intrigued by Leigh Bodden, too. Not in place of McFadden, but in addition to. I'm generally not a fan of the "hey, what do you think about the Steelers signing this guy!?" because, inevitably, "this guy" turns out to be too old/too expensive/too ... something. But Leigh Bodden used to be good. Not only that, Pittsburgh has an amazing track record with former Lions' castoffs. That said, I don't expect anything to come of it -- there are plenty of teams with CB needs and they'll certainly throw some coin Bodden's way -- just thinking out loud.

As for free-agent priorities, I'm hoping for something like this: B-Mac, Max, and Nate. Chaz will also be back, I'm guessing, and I'm guessing the team will find a way to sign some of the special teams talent. (This does not include Mitch Berger. Obviously.) I was indifferent to Kemoeatu for most of the year, but I really soured on him during the postseason.

Then, of course, there are a crapload of guys with just one year left on their current deals:

James Harrison
Hines Ward
Brett Keisel
Heath Miller
Ryan Clark
Jeff Reed
Casey Hampton
Deshea Townsend
Larry Foote