2012 Steelers Draft, Round 1: Open Thread

Posted on April 26, 2012 by ryan

It’s draft time, peeps. We’ll post a thread for each day of the proceedings so consider this your first-round thread. Feel free to make your first-round predictions in the comments (and if you’re so inclined, mock all seven rounds of Steelers’ picks).

On Wednesday’s podcast, Gretz talked me out of Dont’a Hightower at 1.24, and Mike Mayock, during his live mock draft last night, has me leaning towards Cordy Glenn. Not because that’s who I want the Steelers to take but because I could see it happening. All of this is a longwinded way of saying this: I’ve got Pittsburgh drafting guard Kevin Zeitler out of Wisconsin with their first pick.

Related posts:

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft Round Up: 3.0
  2. Steelers Lounge 2011 NFL Draft Discussion Thread, Day 3
  3. Steelers Lounge 2011 NFL Draft Discussion Thread, Day 2
  4. Steelers Lounge 2011 NFL Draft Discussion Thread
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft Round Up: 2.0
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  • wdm

    I want DeCastro. I suspect Big Ben does too

  • wdm

    I want DeCastro. I suspect Big Ben does too

    • Raveloma

      I wonder how many WRs we’ll draft this year. Somehow the uncertainty with Mike’s contract and Manny’s durability have me thinking that the Steelers will take advantage of a deep WR class this year.

      • Rob D

        Same here..might even go in the 3rd…and perhaps another later. Sanders and those foot problems are troubling and who knows about Wallace?

    • wdm

      So I called it!

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    I’ll go with the obvious / consensus pick and say Hightower. I think Intropy said he may be the Mike, with Juan moving to the Buck.

    Our history in the last 20 years or so says that the odds are that this draft will produce a Pro Bowler, another eventual starter or two, and 1-3 backups who stick. That’s a very high bar, and is a key reason we’re often competing for a championship.

  • Rob D

    Hightower is a solid pick, just not a very exciting one. I’d rather go with a tradeup or down. Get a Decastro or Kuechly for instance rather than settling for solid. I think our aging D needs a dynamic 3 down player and we all know about our o-line.
    Of course, the Steelers are smarter than me so they will probably stay right where they are and find a Pro Bowler…\
    A trade down will yield more solid type picks and that would be cool too

  • Anonymous

    Good start to the draft with that Vikings, Browns trade.

    • Anonymous

      Especially now that they’ve used it on Richardson. I look forward to seeing Lawrence Timmons tackle him for a 1 yard gain 30 times this season.

      • smilinjoe

         why would the move up ONE spot to take Richardson?

        • Anonymous

          Rumor is that they “had to” because Tampa Bay was looking to trade with Minnesota as well.

          • smilinjoe

             ok, thanks.  I’m watching the live stream, but with volume down.

  • Anonymous

    Too bad about Barron going early. I was hoping he’d drop enough to be a potential trade up target.

  • Rob D

    All of a sudden, it’s trade city!

  • Anonymous

    Darn! There goes Kuechly. I thought we had a chance at a trade up to 16 or so for him.

    • Rc21pitt

      Bills take Gilmore..CB…S.Car.

  • Randy Steele

    Hope you’re right, Ryan. I think Zeitler is a smart, safe bet, as sure a thing as you can have in a draft filled with guys who are a lot of hopes and prayers.

    • Randy Steele

      And I think I’m glad Poe is gone. That temptation has been taken away. Of course, if he really is the next Haloti Ngata, I reserve the right to change my mind.

  • Rob D

    There goes Poe..thank goodness..

  • Cols714

    Poe is gone. I would like to know if the Steelers were even ever considering him.

    • Randy Steele

      He was in for a visit, so… maybe.

      • Randy Steele

        So far, the early selection of Poe is the only real pick that I find surprising.

        • Randy Steele

          Oops… I’ll take that back. Did anyone else have Bruce Irvin going in the first round, let alone the top 15?

        • smilinjoe

           I’m sure that’s changed now (B. Irvin)

  • Randy Steele

    Mr. Kian was correct about the big increase in the trade activity this year. It does make the evening  a tad more interesting.

  • Anonymous

    9 picks until the Steelers go and DeCastro is still hanging around. As is Reiff. I’m not holding my breath, but either would be quite welcome.

  • Cols714

    I don’t really want an OT. Not with Gilbert, Colon, and hopefully Starks on the team.

    • Randy Steele

      I’m sure Max Starks agrees with you.

      • Randy Steele

        Wonder if the Bears grab Reiff…

  • Ted

    Time to start pursuing a trade-up for DeCastro. Seriously doubt he lasts past No. 21.

  • Anonymous

    At pick DeCastro watch like Amukamara watch before it, is getting interesting. How much does it cost to move to 18? When do they consider trying to trade?

  • Ted

    Never thought Poe would last to us. He is a top-5 talent without a top-100 game film. If everyone passed on him, we would have as well. Otherwise, the draft has been perfect, in that no OL other than Kalil has gone, while Hightower, and Mercilus are also still around.

  • Anonymous

    @ pick 20, I say offer Bengals 1 + 4 + maybe another later pick for pick 21 and get DeCastro.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UR6KXGPFIFYZSVJNCXCJNHDQJQ Bob Costas

    No need to trade now.  Patriots are taking a pass rusher.  Not sure what Cleveland and the Lions are doing but probably not two guards.

    • Anonymous

      I think you may be right. I can see maybe one of them doing it just on value, but man, if the Steelers get to stay put and take DeCastro. Exciting.

  • Randy Steele

    Who would have predicted these guys might be available… Steelers’ draft room must be spinning right now. Wow.

  • Ted

    If DeCastro is on the board and we pass, I may throw up. Seriously, I would throw up. Mercilus is intriguing and could be a star. Perry has bust written all over him. But either of those guys is a reserve for at least one year and you are saying that Worilds was the dumbest pick ever by going OLB. Now, if Det takes DeCastro, then I could see Merc., but would still prefer Hightower, Glenn, Zeitler, Martin, or a slight trade down. Please Detroit, anyone but DeCastro.

    • Ted

      Or Reiff, holy cow. Can’t believe the value on the o-line right now. You are going to see a run on them at the end of the first.

      • Randy Steele

        Really, it’s shocking. DeCastro would be incredible, but how do you pass up on an OT rated as highly as Reiff? You can’t pass him up, can you?

        • Anonymous

          Reiff just got picked. Steelers are up. DeCastro on the board. Easy pick.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UR6KXGPFIFYZSVJNCXCJNHDQJQ Bob Costas

       See, I was hoping for DeCastro because you were pimping him but now I’m waffling thinking about you throwing up and the epic rant to follow…

    • GlennW

      Hopefully the Lions take Reiff.  But I’d be happy with Reiff also.

    • Cols714

      You really are crazy if you would throw up after a draft pick.

  • Anonymous

    YESSSS!!!!!!!!!@OHbhdgvfdj;zgc ;onsmaf;shfclsJdsVZbvdnfz,hvcg s

    • Randy Steele

      Yeah, what he said!

  • Ted

    This is like when Roethlisberger fell to 11 and what I assume it would be like to get five numbers in PowerBall. What a dream.

  • Randy Steele

    Wow… Wow… Wow…
    Can you say, Pittsburgh “Steal-ers”?!
    I cannot believe they landed DeCastro.

  • Anonymous

    DeCastro to the Steelers at 24. Best value selection in the draft so far that also happens to be at their position of greatest need. No trades needed for it. Completely awesome.

    • Randy Steele

      And the Steelers knew it. They RAN that pick up to the podium. Even Goodell was smiling.

      • Randy Steele

        This is not a steal. This is Grand Theft Larceny!

  • Ted

    I was ready to trade a third, and then quickly willing to give a fourth. To get a consensus top 15 player at our biggest short-term and long-term need who is the best guard to enter the draft in a decade at 24 is unreal.

    • Rob D

      It’s a Faneca moment for me..feels the same way only better. Awesome pick

  • Randy Steele

    Ha! And the Ravens won’t get Hightower!

  • Anonymous

    This is the opposite of how I felt in the 2009 draft.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UR6KXGPFIFYZSVJNCXCJNHDQJQ Bob Costas

    It is nice to finally get some blue chippers on the offenseive line. Hopefully, DeCastro lives up to his billing.  If so, then Pouncy and DeCastro will bring some much needed stability to the interior of the line.  If Gilbert works also works out, they could have a really strong center-to-tackle on one side of the line.  That would help immensely.

  • Randy Steele

    Bet the guys at Steeler Depot are sobbing that we didn’t take Coby Fleener…

    • Anonymous

      I’ll bet you they aren’t. I think Fleener would have been a reach, but not a crazy pick. Very few people thought DeCastro would be available at 24.

      • Randy Steele

        No, not crazy, but they were so stubbornly all over him that it was embarrassing. And would not concede the pick until the last couple days. They deserve abuse.

    • Anonymous

      I’ll bet you they aren’t. I think Fleener would have been a reach, but not a crazy pick. Very few people thought DeCastro would be available at 24.

  • Cols714

    Of course maybe DeCastro isn’t all that good after all and the other teams are laughing at us.

  • Cols714

    Of course maybe DeCastro isn’t all that good after all and the other teams are laughing at us.

    • Anonymous

      Nobody knows for sure what a player will become. Even established veterans have some variability. Even if DeCastro busts, it was a good value pick based on the information everyone has right now.

  • Anonymous

    So round two… I like Ta’amu.

    • Anonymous

       In round 2, I like that we got DeCastro in round 1

      • Anonymous

        Well yeah obviously. DeCastro was a steal. I meant for round 2. Ta’amu is my favorite “likely to be there” pick. Could Fleener fall? Hill? I wouldn’t think either would, but the reachers are starting to come in to play.

        • Anonymous

          No, I’m just saying… we could pass on every remaining pick we have in the draft, and I’d be thrilled with how we did.

          Best draft day since 2006.

        • Randy Steele

          Now I’m feeling greedy. I want Lavonte David! (But I’ll settle for the Ravens not getting him.)

    • Anonymous

      Actually responding on the merits this time… I think my ideal 2nd and 3rd would be Kendricks and Chapman

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UR6KXGPFIFYZSVJNCXCJNHDQJQ Bob Costas

    Baltimore just bailed out of the first round.

  • Randy Steele

    And now, the Raven trade out of Round One completely. Way to throw in the towel, guys!
    This is glorious!

  • Cols714

    So NT, LB, WR, RB in the next 4 rounds

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    On the game film ESPN showed, DeCastro looked much more powerful than the next guard taken. That, plus all the excitement here makes me feel very good.

    Out of the roughly 600 mock drafts, did a single one have DeCastro falling to 24?

    • Rob D

      Not that I saw..as ted says..consensus top 15 pick…

      I think we have a day one, 10 year starter…He’s so highly regarded and for good reason..can’t believe it yet

    • Randy Steele

      Good point… and the answer is ‘no’.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    Leftwich re-signed with us.  More good news.

    • Rob D

       Hope Lefty can stay healthy this time..he’s been very good in the backup role. He’s much more of a team guy than I expected from a former starter in the league who is now a backup. Steelers seem to find those types..just another of their strengths in terms of making the right choices in personnel.

  • Cols714

    This reminds me of when they drafted Heath Miller. Everyone thought it was a great pick. Same thing here, the best guy at their position of greatest need fell to the Steelers. 1st OG off the board. No one, absolutely no one will criticize this pick.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    At the combine, DeCastro had the best bench press and 3 cone drill among OGs.  Scouts Inc gave him 6 1s (exceptional) and 2 2s in their grades.  http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/28952/david-decastro

    • Randy Steele

      NFL.com had given DeCastro a grade of 92.5. That’s the sixth highest in the draft.
      Lordy, I’m giddy!

  • Cols714

    I’m pretty glad they got DeCastro. I would not have been all that thrilled with an OT there. Horrible guard play was really holding the Steelers back last year (after Starks came back).

    What a difference 2012 is going to be. No Kemo sucking or Legursky being out talented. Gilbert, DeCastro, Pouncey, Foster, and Colon. That’s a good OL.

  • Cols714

     So LB, then Chapman?

    • Randy Steele

      Chapman has a serious medical, doesn’t he? I think he’s DND.

  • Randy Steele

    I am so incredibly happy about this draft pick that… well, I’m a bit embarrassed. Thank god you guys are here to share it with. I can’t think of many other people who would understand.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    From a Scott Brown tweet:

    Colbert said he was one of the 7 to 10 prospects the Steelers had identified as “surefire” NFL players before the draft.

  • Cols714

    Why whenever someone grabs a lineman people say something like”…just plug him in there for the next ten years”

    I mean how often do any players start 10 years for one team? Not very often I’d guess.

    • Rob D

      Yeah..its sort of a short hand for saying he SHOULD be with us for a good long time by NFL standards..and the Steelers tend to keep Pro Bowl level players. The great hope is that DEcastro is one of those.

  • Randy Steele

    So much about this first round has been waaaaay to good to be true. And I’m not just talking about the DeCastro pick. I mean, the Ravens checked out completely. And the Browns picked Trent Richardson and a rookie 28-year-old quarterback. And the Bengals picked a 180-pound cornerback. The only good pick by the bad guys was Zeitler.

    Oh, and I heard Jim Brown being interviewed on ESPN radio about Trent Richardson, and Brown said (I’m paraphrasing a bit), “Well, he isn’t Adrian Petersen… he isn’t as fast… and he isn’t as big… and he isn’t as strong… and, uhh… I mean, he’s all right, but…”

  • David

    Wow, just like I wanted in R1. Now, I wanted us to trade up for T Mike Adams in R2. Too good to be true?

    • Cols714

       No tackles. No tackles. No tackles

  • IsraelP

    Pouncey, Gilbert and DeCastro for the next ten years? Into the career of Ben’s successor.

    Looks really good from here.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    After sleeping on the pick, three observations:
    1. Both Pouncey and DeCastro are supposed to be very good in space, pulling, on the second level, etc.  To fully take advantage of this, It seems like it would be helpful to have a shifty / quick / fast RB who can cut back.  I don’t think we have that guy yet, and he may be coming soon.
    2. Since we didn’t have to trade up to get DeCastro, we still have 9 picks, 6 of which we can deal.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see us trading up in the next few rounds. 
    3. How many fan bases would be as genuinely happy about picking an OG as ours is?

    • Rob D

      1. Funny cause I was thinking of a James Brooks type running behind them. Used to love Brooks..
      2. I definately think a tradeup at SOME point will be in the works. There’s going to be a run on Oline and Corner in the 2nd, I feel. 
      3. Ain’t that the truth! For the more than casual Steeler fan, our long nightmare of O-line mediocrity seems to be coming to an end. 

      • coldironcity

        lamar miller or lamichael james would fit the bill