The 'Burgh Report: 1st Round Possibilities

The only people out there who are confident in who they have going to the Steelers in a mock, are probably those who have no idea what they're talking about. I'm referring to the geniuses at ESPN who have had Dont'a Hightower pegged as a lock to go at 24 for the last month or so. I'm willing to bet my house that the Steelers don't take him. You can hold me to that. Those of us who have actually spent considerable time on the matter, realize this pick is a total mystery. Sure we have hunches, and there are guys we might like more than others as possibilities, but in reality, not even those have done their homework would be confident if they had to take a test on who the Steelers will take. That is why I'm here to consider all the reasonable possibilities of players the Steelers might take 1st round, if they had their say and the player were available. Then, I'm going to list who I would want to see them take in the 2nd and 3rd rounds based on the 1st rounder. With me? Doesn't matter, you'll get the idea.

Now I've split this list of 14 possible players into 3 groups. Those who will probably already be taken, those who I hope we don't take and those who I think are actually fairly reasonable options.

I'll then add a player from a position which makes sense for the next 2 rounds.

The 2nd round options include:

Brandon Brooks (G Miami OH)/Amini Silatolu (G Midwestern State)

Kelechi Osemele (T Iowa State)/Bobbie Massie (T Mississippi)/Mitchell Schwartz (T California)

Mychal Kendricks (ILB California)

Derek Wolfe (DL Cincinnati)

Lavonte David (OLB Nebraska) Though he probably won't fall this far.

The 3rd round options include:

Josh Chapman (NT Alabama)/Mike Martin (DT Michigan)

Robert Turbin (RB Utah State)/Isaiah Pead (RB Cincinnati)

Marvin McNutt (WR Iowa)/T.Y. Hilton (WR Florida International)

Zebrie Sanders (T FSU)/Brandon Washington (G/T Miami)

Bobby Wagner (ILB Utah State)/James-Michael Johnson (ILB Nevada)

Keep in mind, when I put a guy down for the 2nd or 3rd, I'm implying I think it will be him, or another player from that position. So if I put Josh Chapman down as a 3rd round option for someone, I mean that I think the Steelers will target NT with that pick. Implying that it could be Chapman or Mike Martin, who he is listed with.

You'll notice that I think the Steelers will be taking a NT and an OL somewhere in two of our top three picks. My favorites are Brooks and Chapman (which you'll notice below) but I could see other guys at their position being taken instead, depending on the Steelers draft board. The third player in the top 3 will be a the wild card, depending on what player is taken in the 1st.

So let's start with the ones I'm hoping fall:

Dontari Poe (DT Memphis)

2nd) Brandon Brooks (G Miami OH)

3rd) Robert Turbin (RB Utah State)

Michael Brockers (DT LSU)

2nd) Brandon Brooks (G Miami OH)

3rd) Robert Turbin (RB Utah State)

Mark Barron

2nd) Brandon Brooks (G Miami OH)