The Steelers were fortunate in the 2nd round also as Linas Sweed was projected to go in the first round according to many draft experts.  He was injured most of last season in Texas and that is probably why he slid so far in the draft.  The Steelers have been looking for a big receiver since Plaxico Burress left to sign with the Giants.  Sweed is 6’4″, 212 pounds and he’s fast as he runs a 4.45 40.  Sweed played in 43 games (39 starts) in his career for the Longhorns and he caught 124 passes for 1,915 yards (15.4 avg) with 20 TD receptions.  Sweed will likely be the Steelers’ #3 WR when the season begins.

It’s amazing that running back Rashard Mendenhall fell all the way down to the Steelers at the #23 pick.  Mendenhall is 5’10″, 225 pounds and he has good speed as he runs a 4.45 40.  Mendenhall is a power back as he likes to deliver a blow to the defender but that can also wear him out.  Mendenhall played in 35 games (14 starts) at Illinois and he carried the ball 388 times for 2,539 yards (6.5 ypc) with 22 TD runs.  He also caught 59 passes for 564 yards (9.6 avg) with 5 TD runs.  Mendenhall will be given the chance to compete with Willie Parker for the starting job at tailback and he will likely beat him out at some point as he fits the style of play the Steelers run better than Parker does.  This was a good pick for the Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have a good draft last season.  OLB Lawrence Timmons was the Steelers’ first round pick last season and he played in all 16 games (0 starts) and he made a whopping 13 tackles.  DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley was the 2nd round pick of the Steelers and he also didn’t show much as a rookie.  Woodley played in 13 games (0 starts) last season for the Steelers and he made 14 tackles and forced a fumble.  TE Matt Spaeth was the Steelers’ third round pick last season and he was nothing more than a goal line target.  Spaeth played in 14 games (5 starts) for the Steelers last season and he caught 5 passes for 34 yards (6.8 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  The first of the Steelers’ 4th round picks was the best player they drafted last season.  Punter Daniel Sepulveda played in all 16 games for the Steelers last season and he averaged 42.4 yards per punt (68 punts) and he also had a 37.9 yard net average.  Sepulveda also nailed the opponent inside the 20-yard line 28 times (42.2%) which is outstanding.  DE Ryan McBean was the other 4th round pick of the Steelers and he played in 1 game and didn’t even make a tackle.  The first of the Steelers’ 5th round picks last season was OG Cameron Stephenson who was cut in Training Camp.  The Steelers’ other fifth round pick was CB William Gay.  Gay played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Steelers last season and he made 19 tackles and defensed 2 passes.  He will likely be a nickel or dime back for the Steelers in the future and he will also help out on special teams.  WR Dallas Baker was the 7th round pick of the Steelers and he was cut in Training Camp.

GRADE FOR THE 2007 SEASON:  D

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  C-

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed center Justin Hartwig to a 2-year, $3,725 million dollar contract.  Hartwig will likely be the starter at center from day #1 this season and he is a big guy at 6’4″, 312 pounds which is the kind of size the Steelers’ like on the O-Line.  Hartwig started 15 games for the Panthers last season.  Hartwig has now played in 67 games (63 starts) over his six year NFL career.  This was a good move for the Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released WR Cedric Wilson after he was arrested for punching his girlfriend in the face at a Pittsburgh restaurant.  Wilson played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 18 passes for 207 yards (11.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  In three seasons for the Steelers, Wilson played in 47 games and he caught 81 passes for 1,155 yards (14.3 avg) with 2 TD receptions.  Losing Wilson will not hurt the Steelers’ offense one bit as he has been a huge disappointment for them.