Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Draft Picks

2nd Round - Jason Worilds Outside LB, VA Tech, 6'2", 260

Pre-season Update: Worilds had a bad hamstring for the first several weeks of training camp which hurt his progress a lot. But once he was allowed to rush the passer in games, he flashed potential and talent.

He should play a lot on special teams this year and learn how to play OLB in the LeBeau 3-4. Trend: Steady

Draft Day Impressions: I am disappointed in this selection. This player surely could have been taken in the 3rd or even the 4th round. I would have preferred to see more value from this pick by selecting a higher rated player like WR Golden Tate or ILB Sean Lee. But when the Steelers get sweet on a player, they tend to get hooked.

Another reason I don't like this pick is that linebackers coming out of Va Tech don't do well in the Pros and particularly for the Steelers. In 2004, the team took LB Nathaniel Adibi who had a similar build to Worilds. That player looked awful from Day 1 in a Steelers uniform. He couldn't rush the passer or get any penetration.

Finally, it seems that the Steelers took this player solely for his ability to cover Kicks and punts. After the horrendous coverage units from 2009 (4 TDs allowed in kickoff coveage), I can understand the team's concerns, but giving up a 2nd round pick to fix the situation is going overboard. With Pro Bowlers James Harrison and LaMar Woodley ahead of him, Worilds MUST be able to play special teams.

Draft Grade: C-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B-

3rd Round - Emmanuel Sanders Wide Receiver, SMU, 5'11", 180#

Pre-season Update: Sanders is a smooth, quick, sure-handed reciever who made a lot of nice catches and runs in the pre-season. He also made some bone-headed rookie mistakes like not coming back for the ball and running incorrect routes. But that is all correctable with coaching. He looks like a nice addition to a powerful offense. He will also return kickoffs since Stefan Logan was let go. Trend: Up

Draft Day Impressions: Sanders is slight but very quick. He played in a run-and-shoot style offense that featured lots of quick passes. Do the Steelers play this type of Offense? Somewhat with the recent trend of bubble screens in the flat.

But most receivers of this stature can't last a full 16 games in the NFL -- it's just too tough. Santonio Holmes had lots of trouble staying healthy for a full season and he is significantly bigger than Sanders. So that means Sanders is destined to be a punt returner and 3rd or 4th wideout. Not my idea of a great value in the 3rd round.

Draft Grade: B-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B+

4th Round - Thaddeus Gibson Outside LB, Ohio St., 6'2", 245#

Pre-season Update: Gibson couldn't attend pre-training camp sessions because of academic obligations which slowed down his learning the complicated Steeler D. But he looks good on Special teams and he can rush the passer. A Red-shirt year. Trend: Steady

Draft Day Impressions: Another linebacker? Gibson looks to have lots of potential and comes from a good college program, but can he cover kicks? Because if he can't, he'll be gone faster than former 3rd round choice Bruce Davis.

Draft Grade: B, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B

5th Round - Chris Scott, Offensive Line, Tennessee, 6'4", 320#

Pre-season Update: Got hurt early and never practiced. On the PUP. Trend: Down

Draft Day Impressions: The team liked 2009 free agent O-lineman Ramon Foster so much that they brought in his teammate. Scott played Left Tackle in college which shows he has very good feet and quickness. However, in the Pro game he will have to switch to the right side side and play Right Tackle or Right Guard.

Grade: C, Predicted Grade after 3 years: C

5th Round - Crezdon Butler, Cornerback, Clemson, 6'1", 190#

Pre-season Update: Butler has speed and can play gunner on Special teams. Also, his hands don't look as bad as advertised. He may develop into a nice starting corner one day. Trend: Steady

Draft Day Impressions: This kid is fast (4.4-40) and has nice size, but lacks ball skills (sound familiar Ike Taylor fans?). He will immediately be thrown into the mix and compete with 2009 draft picks Joe Burnet and Keenan Lewis for a DB spot.

Grade: C-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B-

5th Round - Stevenson Sylvester, Inside LB, Utah 6'2", 230#

Pre-season Update: After Pouncey, Sylvester was the biggest surprise of training camp. While he doesn't have great technique or form, he manages to make tackles and consistently be around the ball. He also is an effective pass rusher. Trend: Up

Draft Day Impressions: A Larry Foote type of player who gets the most out of his athletic ability. A very instinctive, productive player with a high motor if not a fast 40 time. Will play inside in the 3-4 and hopefully add depth, if he can cover kicks.

Grade: C, Predicted Grade after 3 years: C-

6th Round - Jonathan Dwyer, Running Back, GA Tech, 5'11" 230#

Pre-season Update: Dwyer came to Camp a bit overweight and out of shape. He subsequently got hurt and couldn't practice. Luckily, his position is not hard to learn. During the last two pre-season games, he showed nice burst and explosion once he got rolling down the field. Trend: Steady

Draft Day Impressions: The highlight of the draft in terms of value. Dwyer was advised to enter the Draft as a Junior and was told he would be a 2nd round pick. He has great size, good speed (4.55 -40) and was very productive in college carrying for 1,395 yards the last two years consistently battling for extra yards. He also excelled in goal line and short yardage situations, an area of the game where the Steelers have struggled mightily ever since Jerome Bettis retired.

Dwyer also looks to be an excellent understudy (and insurance policy?) to Rashaard Mendenhall. This back needs to do better at picking up blitzes if he wants to see the field, but with his size and violent running style, that should be easy for him to learn.

Grade: A, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B+

6th Round - Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver, Central Michigan, 5'10" 185#

Pre-season Update: A decent return man who has lots to learn about being a Receiver in the NFL. Probably won't dress for most games. Trend: Steady

Draft Day Impressions: Another smallish receiver from a smallish college program. The nightmare of Troy Edwards still keeps me up at night. Ugg.

Grade: D-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: F

7th Round - Doug Worthington, Defensive End, Ohio St., 6'5" 295#

Pre-season Update: Worthington is stout but not very mobile. Shows a good motor but he can't go very far at the moment. Trend: Steady

Draft Day Impressions: A real sleeper pick. Worthington has great size and good feet to eventually replace another former 7th round Defensive End, Bret Keisel, if he works hard and keeps his nose to the grindstone.

Grade: B+, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B

Draft Day Impressions

The Steelers came into this Draft with big needs to fill at Cornerback and Interior Offensive line where they needed to find new starters. Whether this goal was met depends on whether you think former Second round pick Bryant McFadden is a starting corner in the NFL. The team re-acquired McFadden from the Arizona Cardinals in a draft day deal, taking him for almost nothing.

The team also needed to add depth at Linebacker, Wideout and Running back. The team accomplished this by getting 3 linebackers, 2 receivers and 1 Running back to fill out the depth chart.

However, after Pouncey, the teams's first round selection, there won't be much immediate help for the offense or defense in 2010. The Special Teams coverage units so scarred the team in 2009 that many of the picks were made to simply improve coverage units. If those players eventually become starters, it would seem to be a bonus rather than an expectation.