sl community

Steelers trade their 1st rd (31) pick and 3rd rd (95) for Seattle pick (25) and 5th rd pick (26th of 5th). Seattle looks to trade down and gives Pittsburgh a good deal because NE is looking to trade the 1st rd (28th) pick.
1st rd (25th) Nate Solder- Nate has been sliding down mock drafts because he only might be able to play one position left tackle, while LT is very important few teams are willing to carry a 1st rd pick on their inactive roster, two years of very good drafts give the Steelers this flexibility. The Steelers act to trade up because the Pats could use a left tackle and have patience like Pittsburgh. Seattle later trades the 31st pick for Carson Palmer, Hasselbeck has proven he cannot stay health and Palmer reunites with his old coach. The Bengals save some face and get a 1st rd pick for Palmer.

2nd rd (31st) Ras-I Dowling- He might not be here but the Steelers need some leverage with Ike Taylor's contract situation.
2a (31st) Lance Kendricks- Kendricks is moving up boards quickly and could be gone aready, some mocks now have him ahead of Kyle Rudolph. The Steelers look to keep the passing game going strong.
2b (31st) Chimdi Chekwa- Both players above could be off the board, so the Steelers go with the next best position of need.
3rd (31) - traded
4th (31) Cortez Allen - the Steelers hedge their bet on CB and take another (or finally take one if they draft Kendricks)
5th (26) Greg Romeus- a home town player who might not contribute much in his first year allow this falling player (injury) to land with the Steelers. After a season to gain strength and recover from injury Romeus shows why he was a potential 1st rd pick.
5th (31) Mark Herlich- another player who is stock is falling because of injury, Pittsburgh wastes no time drafting this high character LB.
6th (31) Schuylar Oordt- there is a good chance the Steeler do not have their pass catching TE at this point so they choose this developmental pick for the practice squad who can be a pass catching option if Miller get hurt
6a (31) Tori Gurley- If the Steelers already have took a TE in rd two they draft a WR for next year and give Ben his big target.
7 (31) Dion Lewis- The Steelers once again tap into their Pitt connection, Lewis provides a pass catching option and depth

Feel free to give your thoughts. Thanks Mike.

Some thoughts on Solder around the web...
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81eb70a5/article/defensive-line-leads-the-way-on-list-of-top-32-prospects?module=HP_cp2 Mike Mayock
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/nate-solder?id=2495232 more Mayock?
http://walterfootball.com/draft2011_1.php Walter FB
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2011 CBSsports.com
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81928d97/article/costanzo-leads-crop-of-athletic-olinemen-entering-2011-draft early projections from last off-season

Nate Solder is not going to fall past the Colts, Ravens, Pats (or whomever they trade with) and Bears. Most Big Boards have him around 24-25 and as Ted will tell you teams will reach for LT candidates. The Steelers can have the luxury of not needing him right away, he can replace Tony Hills easily, and he can step in at LT and hopefully Starks can move to RT to replace Flozell.

Chekwa went through the combine with a dislocated wrist, but he has good size and quickness but the biggest fact is how good the ohio st secondary was. Even though the other CB and S could be drafted, Chekwa was the one shutting down the top guy. Some Chekwa posts...

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1117485

http://www.nationalfootballauthority.com/2011/03/2011-nfl-combine-patrick-peterson.html

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=75171&draftyear=2011&genpos=CB