David DeCastro Signs Contract With Steelers

The Steelers have signed offensive lineman David DeCastro, their first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, to a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year. That means the Steelers have their entire roster signed except for wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Full financial terms of DeCastro's contract don't appear to be out yet, but it should come in at a bit under $8 million. Steelers Depot notes that the recent signings of fellow first-round picks Riley Reiff (Lions) and Dont'a Hightower (Patriots) helped set the market for DeCastro.

The Detroit Lions signing of their first round draft pick, tackle Riley Reiff, earlier in the day, effectively boxed DeCastro in and his signing was pretty much eminent at that point. The hold up in getting DeCastro signed this entire time was likely due to negotiations over how much of the fourth and final year of the deal would be guaranteed.

New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who was selected one pick after DeCastro this past April, reportedly did not receive any portion of his fourth and final year guaranteed when he signed late last week and it is believed the same went for Reiff, who was selected one pick ahead of DeCastro.

We'll soon see how exactly DeCastro's contract breaks down. DeCastro was widely considered to be a great pick at No. 24 overall, given his value and the Steelers' problems at the guard position last season. He's expected to start at right guard this season.

Steelers 2012 Draft Receives More Praise

2012 NFL Draft Results: Sean Spence Signs With Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers third-round draft pick, linebacker Sean Spence, has officially signed with the Steelers on Tuesday, according to a tweet by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Ed Bouchette.

#Steelers sign third-rounder, LB Sean Spence. One rookie left, top pick DeCastro.

The Steelers' first round draft pick, offensive lineman David DeCastro, is the only player drafted by the Steelers who hasn't yet signed.

Spence was the first defensive player the Steelers selected, after picking DeCastro and fellow offensive lineman Mike Adams in the first two rounds. Spence made 54 tackles last season for the Miami Hurricanes. 14 of those tackles were for loss, while forcing a fumble and recording three sacks. It's not yet clear what his role will be in the Steelers' system, although he'll surely play lots of special teams in his first season.

For more information on other results of the 2012 NFL Draft stay subscribed to this StoryStream.For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers May Have To Wait To Sign David DeCastro

The Pittsburgh Steelers took David DeCastro with the No. 24 pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but it may be a while until they get him under contract. Steelers Depot takes a look at some of the picks before DeCastro that has signed and tries to guess what his deal might be. Steelers Depot also compares DeCastro's situation to that of the No. 24 overall pick last year, Cameron Jordan. One issue ahead is the number of guaranteed years in the deal.

That deal included a $4.12 million signing bonus. It figures that DeCastro will receive a deal very close to that of Jordan and it should only have three years guaranteed as well. Until DeCastro is boxed out of a four-year guarantee though by a contract ahead of him, he will likely remain unsigned.

Only having one year under the new CBA complicates things because we don't have a lot of precedent for how these deals should look. The No. 19 overall pick under contract is already signed, so we're about five contracts away from figuring out what DeCastro's contract is going to look like. Unfortunately, there is really no way to know how long that will take.

For more information on other results of the 2012 NFL Draft stay subscribed to this StoryStream.For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

2012 NFL Draft: How Will The Pittsburgh Steelers Use Chris Rainey?

Chris Rainey was an explosive back at the University of Florida and could be a valuable weapon for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

Dave Bryan of Steelers Depot takes a look at the Steelers running back situation and gives his his take on Rainey:

Rainey is certainly not an every down back as his smallish build will not let him be a between the tackles type runner. What Rainey is however, is a play-maker and his ability to also line up in the slot and catch the ball out of the backfield will make him a hard player for defenses he faces to account for.

During his career as a Gator, Rainey played in fifty-two games, compiled 2,464 yards and thirteen touchdowns on 396 rushing attempts, 795 yards and six touchdowns on sixty-nine receptions, and 454 return yards on eighteen kickoffs. On special teams, he holds the team career record for blocked kicks (4). Following his senior season in 2011, his fellow Gators recognized him as the team's most valuable player.

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2012 NFL Draft: Penn State's Devon Still Signs With Bengals

Former Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Devon Still officially signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Devon Still signed with the Bengals today.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 11, 2012

Still was drafted in the second round, No. 53 overall. He measures in at 6'5" and 303 pounds. He was a prolific run stopper for the Nittany Lions during his career earning All-American honors, recording 17 tackles for loss in 2011. Still also recorded 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Still should be able to be a major contributor in a division where the running game is a major contributor with players like Ray Rice and rookie Trent Richardson. His ability to at least pressure the quarterback will be a good addition for the Bengals as well.

For more information on other results of the 2012 NFL Draft stay subscribed to this StoryStream. For more information on the Penn State Nittany Lions, check out the SBNation blog Black Shoe Diaries.

Steelers Sign 7th-Round Pick Kelvin Beachum

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed yet another draft pick, inking offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum. Pittsburgh selected Beachum with the 246th overall selection, a 7th round compensatory selection. Steelers Depot has the information on his contract.

4 year deal for Kelvin Beachum will total out around an estimated $2.143 million & include a signing bonus in neighborhood of $43K #steelers

— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) May 10, 2012

Pittsburgh has had to deal with problems with both injured and aging players on their offensive line in recent years, leading to the team drafting three offensive linemen, including Beachum. He started for four years at left tackle for SMU, but he will compete for a spot on the Steelers' roster as a guard.

For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Former West Virginia Cornerback Keith Tandy Signs With Tampa Bay

The 2012 NFL Draft is in the books, but players are now starting to sign their contracts with their new teams. That includes some former local products, and former West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy is the latest to ink a deal. He was a sixth round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he has put pen to paper on a new deal, according to Aaron Wilson at Scout.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached a four-year agreement in principle with sixth-round cornerback Keith Tandy, according to a league source.

Tandy intercepted three passes last season, plus another one in the Orange Bowl win over Clemson. As a junior, Tandy had 57 tackles, six interceptions and 11 pass deflections and was named All-Big East Conference.

Tandy has good size and speed for a cornerback, which is something that teams like to have in their backups. He has a very good chance of making the roster.

For more on the West Virginia Mountaineers, please head over to the Smoking Musket.

Steelers 2012 NFL Draft Predictions: How Good Can David DeCastro Be?

Steelers Sign David Paulson, Terrence Frederick

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been rapidly signing their 2012 NFL Draft picks, coming to terms with two player young players on Wednesday afternoon. The Steelers have signed late round picks tight end David Paulson and defensive back Terrence Frederick.

#Steelers come to terms with 2 more draft picks, both 7th rounders: TE David Paulson, CB Terrence Frederick

— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) May 9, 2012

Both players were drafted in the seventh-round of the 2012 NFL Draft and look to be developmental prospects. Paulson played his college football at Oregon and is known more as a pass catching tight end. Frederick played college football at Texas A&M and is expected to potentially contribute on special teams as a rookie in a deep Steelers secondary.

For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Mike Adams, Steelers Agree To 4-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already gotten some of their rookies from the 2012 NFL Draft under contract and have added another one on Tuesday evening as the team has signed second round pick Mike Adams.

#steelers come to terms with Mike Adams, 2nd pick

— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) May 9, 2012

Adams new deal is for four years, as are most other rookies per the new collective bargaining agreement. Adams, who played offensive tackle for Ohio State, is the fourth Steelers rookie to come to terms on a contract. Many experts had mocked Adams to the Steelers in the first round, until he popped positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine.

Adams fell to the Steelers in the second round, being the second offensive lineman drafted by the Steelers in the 2012 NFL Draft. He played left tackle for the Buckeyes and many believe he will wind up being a right tackle in the NFL, but will help the Steelers regardless of where he plays on the line.

For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

2012 NFL Draft: Steelers Sign First Of Four Seventh-Round Draft Picks

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed seventh-round draft pick Toney Clemons to a four-year contract, the team announced on Tuesday. The deal is estimated to be worth roughly $2.15 million.

Clemons, a 6-foot-2 wide receiver, was selected by the Steelers with the No. 231 pick in last month's NFL Draft.

During his senior season with the Buffaloes, he caught 43 passes for 680 yards and eight touchdowns. A native of New Kensington, Penn., Clemons spent his first two seasons in college at Michigan before transferring to Colorado.

The rookie should help bolster a shrinking wide receiver position for the Steelers. Following the release of veteran wideout Hines Ward, Pittsburgh has just four receivers on its roster in Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery.

For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Steelers' Alameda Ta'amu Fought Weight Problems At Beginning Of College

2012 NFL Draft: Potential Trade Up For David DeCastro Fall Through, Steelers Get Him Anyway

The Pittsburgh Steelers remained very quiet in the first round, and were able to walk away with the player that might have been highest ranked on their board. They seemed like geniuses for hanging back so calmly and waiting for David DeCastro to fall to them, but it turns out that was not always the case.

Interesting note on Bruce Irvin, the 1st 1st rounder to sign. Jets and Steelers had a draft-deal essentially done for NY to drop back ...

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) May 8, 2012

It seems like the Jets were going to drop back and take Irvin with the Steelers first round pick, but the deal del through when he went unexpectedly to the Seahawks a few picks too early. As for who the Steelers would take. . .

Steelers still got their man, DeCastro, in their original spot. Will be interesting to see how careers of Irvin and Coples pan out.

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) May 8, 2012

This just shows how much the Steelers wanted to have David DeCastro. They were willing to trade up about ten spots, which probably would have carried a heavy price tag I assume. But they were able to get him without trading up. Seems like a win to me.

Check out SB Nation's Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain.

Steelers Sign Draft Pick Alameda Ta'amu

The Steelers have signed fourth-round draft pick Alameda Ta'amu, the team reports. The Steelers traded up to get Ta'amu after picking offensive linemen David DeCastro and Mike Adams in the first and second rounds and linebacker Sean Spence in the third. Ta'amu, a nose tackle, could be the heir apparent to the aging Casey Hampton, and he and Steve McLendon will likely handle the nose tackle duties this season while Hampton recovers from injury.

Ta’amu (6-2, 348), who was the 109th overall pick, played collegiately at the University of Washington. He started 42-of-50 games at left defensive tackle, producing 109 tackles (57 solo) with 7.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He was named All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention in each of his last two seasons and was the team’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2010 after recording a career-high 39 tackles.

Check out SB Nation's Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain. Here's BTSC's take on the Ta'amu signing.

NFL Draft 2012: Steelers Sign Fifth Round Pick Chris Rainey

The Pittsburgh Steelers have begun to secure their 2012 draft picks, as fifth round pick Chris Rainey became the second draftee to sign with the team.

Rainey, a running back out of the University of Florida, was taken with the 159th overall pick of the draft.

In his career as a Gator, Rainey ranks ninth all-time in rushing yards with 2,464 in 52 career games. Rainey was a threat in numerous ways in his college career, scoring 21 career touchdowns; 13 rushing, six receiving and two on punt returns.

He also set the Southeast Conference record with six career blocked punts.

Rainey is the second draft pick to sign, joining Washington's Alameda Ta'amu who was taken in the fourth round.

For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest news from around the NFL this offseason, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Mike Adams Probably Won't Start From The Beginning

The Pittsburgh Steelers took offensive lineman in each of the first two rounds of varying degree of NFL readiness. Their first round pick David DeCastro is considered to be a plug and play elite level guard from Day 1, while their second round pick Mike Adams is a little bit more of a gamble. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn't think that Adams will be ready to start for the Steelers right out of the gate.

Adams is not ready to be a starter in the NFL because he needs to get stronger. He did only 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press at the combine, a low and disappointing number for an offensive lineman. Adams should be a starting tackle for a long time and, with DeCastro, automatically elevates the talent on the line. But not right now.

And that totally makes sense. If Adams was ready to start from Day 1, he probably wouldn't have made it out of the first round. The Steelers took Adams with the hope that he could develop into a starter at some point as Dulac points out, he just isn't ready for that role just yet.

Steelers To Begin Rookie Minicamp

Behind The Steel Curtain has the detail on the Steelers’ first rookie minicamp, which begins Friday and ends Sunday. (There are also Organized Team Activities on May 22-24, May 29-31, and June 4-7, and a full team minicamp on June 12-14.

The list of players participating in the minicamp includes all their recent draftees, including first-rounder David DeCastro and second-rounder Mike Adams. It also includes a number of undrafted free agents. (UFAs began signing immediately after the draft ended.) Here’s the full list of players.

David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Sean Spence, LB, Miami
Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington
Chris Rainey, RB, Florida
Toney Clemons, WR, Colorado
David Paulson, TE, Oregon
Terrence Frederick, CB, Texas A&M
Kelvin Beachum, OG, SMU
Drew Butler, P, Georgia
Terry Carter, CB, La. Tech
Connor Dixon, WR, Duquesne
Robert Golden, S, Arizona
Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, DE, So. Ct. St.
Ryan Lee C/G, Furman
Brandon Lindsey, LB, Pitt
Marquis Maze, WR, Alabama
Grant Ressel, K, Missouri
Adrian Robinson, LB, Temple
Desmond Stapleton, OT, Rutgers
Jake Stoller, DE, Yale

For more on the NFL Draft, check out http://mockingthedraft.com>Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers Draft Picks Select New Numbers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be hosting their new rookies at a camp this weekend, which means the team had to give them some numbers to put on their practice jerseys. Ed Bouchette has a complete rundown of the numbers that the new players will be wearing, including some of their top picks from the draft.

David DeCastro, the first round pick at No. 24 overall, will wear No. 61 with his new club. DeCastro wore No. 52 while playing at Stanford but that number is off limits because of Mike Webster. The team doesn't officially retire numbers anymore, but they aren't giving out No. 52.

The Steelers took Mike Adams in the second round and he will be wearing No. 76. The team's second round pick Sean Spence chose to fill some big shoes as he will wear No. 51, the number recently vacated when the team released James Farrior. Alameda Ta'amu, whom the Steelers took in the fourth round, will be wearing No. 95 as he lines up as nose tackle for Pittsburgh. Chris Rainey will be wearing No. 22.

You can see the Numbers for all the Steelers draft picks as well as some of their offseason additions here.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Reward And Risk In Steelers' Picks

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a steal with Stanford guard David DeCastro in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Few experts thought DeCastro would fall that far. ESPN's Jamison Hensley noted that fortunate turn of events in his rewiew of the Steelers' draft class.

The riskiest move, in Hensley's eyes, was taking Mike Adams, the Ohio State offensive tackle, in the 2nd round. Questions about character and consistency plagued Adams in during his senior season at Ohio State and in the lead up to the draft.

As far as value, Pittsburgh found that with Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu in the 4th round.

NT Alameda Ta'amu, Washington. Memphis' Dontari Poe, the draft's top-rated nose tackle, was taken at No. 11. The Steelers got the second-best one in Ta'amu 98 picks later in the fourth round. That's unbelievable value. The massive Samoan is the heir apparent to Casey Hampton.

For more analysis and Steelers coverage, check out Behind the Steel Curtain.

Stephfon Green Of Penn State Signs With Detroit Lions

Stephfon Green, running back for the Penn State Nittany Lions, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions on Monday, according to Ron Musselman of StateCollege.com.

After some earlier confusion, free-agent RB Stephfon Green has signed with the Detroit Lions, joining OL Quinn Barham.

— Ron Musselman (@rmusselmansc) April 30, 2012

In a Penn State career marred with disciplinary problems, Green ran for 14 touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in four seasons. Last season, he ran for 266 yards on 61 carries. He joins fellow Nittany Lion Quinn Barham, who also signed with the Lions. Barham started at tackle in 2010 at Penn State and did so again in 2011.

Here's more on Penn State undrafted free agents.

For more information on the Penn State program, please check out our Penn State Blog, Black Shoe Diaries. For more on College Football, check out the SB Nation College Football Hub.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Bengals, Steelers Fare Well In Recent Roundup

Behind The Steel Curtain gives out NFL Draft grades to every team in the AFC North and AFC East. The Cincinnati Bengals fare the best overall, getting an A+ for, in particular, grabbing Devon Still, Mohamed Sanu, Brandon Thompson, Orson Charles and Marvin Jones. The Steelers get an overall grade of A mainly for getting David DeCastro, Mike Adams and Alameda Ta’amu.

The Steelers once again had themselves another impressive draft. Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin sat back at 24 and let their board play out. When they got on the clock, they simply looked at their board and took the BPA. They did the same things in round 2 and three and decided to make a move up for a NT they coveted in Alameda Ta’amu. This draft could position the Steelers nicely for the next decade on the offensive line.

The Ravens get a B, and the Browns get a C+. In the East, the Bills get a B+, thanks in part to their selections of Cordy Glenn and Zebrie Sanders. The Jets and Dolphins get B’s. The Patriots get a C+.

Of course, it’s fair to note at this point that most teams getting good “grades” in this draft were taking the highest-ranked players. Other teams knew perfectly well who the highest-ranked players were and chose not to draft them. If a team has a track record of being smart, as the Patriots do, I might be inclined to cut them some slack until we see how their picks fare at the NFL level.

For more on the NFL Draft, check out Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft 2012 Reactions: Mel Kiper Says Steelers Fared Well With Several Top Picks

Mel Kiper says the Steelers did a great job getting value in the first and second rounds of last weekend’s 2012 NFL Draft, in which they picked offensive linemen David DeCastro and Mike Adams.

Best value picks on 1st rd – OFFENSE – Riley Reiff to Det & DeCastro to Pitts. DEFENSE – Ingram to SD

Best value picks in 2nd rd – OFF- Glenn, Buff, Martin, Miami, Konz, Atl, Adams, Pitts.DEF – Upshaw – Balt, Reyes, SD, Worthy, GB, David,TB

It’s hard to argue with that assessment, since it’s surprising those players were on the board when the Steelers picked them. Cordy Glenn, Peter Konz and Courtney Upshaw also lasted longer than they probably should have.

Kiper also says the Steelers did well in the fourth round, when they traded up to select nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu from the University of Washington.

Best value 4th rd -OFF-Miller, Miami, Jones, Houst, Cousins, Wash, Massie, AZ, Charles, Cincy,DEF -Ta’Amu, Pitts, Boykin, Phila Crick,Houst

For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.

2012 NFL Draft Update: Revisiting The Steelers Pre-Draft Visits

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted 30 out-of-state prospects for pre-draft visits this year and SB Nation Behind the Steel Curtain contributor barnerburner decided to track how the Steelers' visitors fared in the draft.

It was a very exhaustive and extensive list of prospects, broken down by school, position, the round in which they were selected and which team ultimately drafted the players that Pittsburgh passed on.

Of the 30 prospects Pittsburgh hosted, the Steelers actually drafted four: Mike Adams (OL) from Ohio State, Kelvin Beachum (OL) from SMU, Toney Clemons (WR) from Colorado and David Paulson (TE) from Oregon.

Sports Illustrated gave the Steelers a draft grade of 'A-' for what they were able to do in the draft as it was widely considered the team selected players that not only fit their individual needs, but also the scheme in which they play.

For more news and analysis on the Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain.

NFL Draft Grades 2012: Steelers Receive 'A-' From Sports Illustrated

The praise regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2012 draft continues to pour in, as Sports Illustrated becomes the latest to give the Steelers high marks in their draft grades.

Like most analysts, SI lauds the work the Steelers did, primarily with their attempts to build an offensive line while taking advantage of prospects that had fallen into the later rounds.

"Not sure how the Steelers did it, but G David DeCastro (24), T Mike Adams (56) and NT Alameda Ta'amu (109) all fell into their lap, and all fit the Pittsburgh scheme (even if Adams brings some character concerns). The Sean Spence pick at 86 was the only question mark, because Spence doesn't appear to be a great fit for the Steelers' 3-4. Grade: A-minus"

If the prospects the Steelers have acquired live up to their potential, the winning tradition of the Steelers appears ready to continue.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, head over to Behind the Steel Curtain.

9 Penn State Football Players Sign As Undrafted Free Agents

Although three Penn State football players were selected during the 2012 NFL Draft, there will still be plenty of rookie Nittany Lions in training camps as nine players were signed as undrafted free agents following the conclusion of yesterday's action.

Here is the complete list, via The Patriot-News:

Nick Sukay (safety) -- Buffalo Bills
Derek Moye (wide receiver) -- Miami Dolphins
D'Anton Lynn (cornerback) -- New York Jets
Stephfon Green (running back) -- New York Jets
Andrew Sczcerba (tight end) -- Dallas Cowboys
Quinn Barham (offensive line) -- Detroit Lions
Eric Lattimore (defensive end) -- Minnesota Vikings
Deon'tae Pannell (offensive line) -- New Orleans Saints
Chaz Powell (cornerback) -- Oakland Raiders

Most notably, D'Anton Lynn signed on with the New York Jets, where his father is the running backs coach.

For more coverage on the 2012 NFL Draft, keep it tuned to this StoryStream and SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, head on over to Black Shoe Diaries.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Steelers Receive 'A' From Pete Prisco of CBS Sports

Mel KIper of ESPN and SB Nation have chimed in with their 2012 Draft Grades for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the high praise continues to roll in as Pete Prisco of CBS Sports has also jumped on board, giving the Steelers an "A" for their draft.

Prisco is especially high about the team's first round selection, Stanford guard David DeCastro while also feeling that they got a huge steal in Washington defensive tackle Ta'amu Alameda. Here are his complete thoughts on the draft.

Best pick: They had to race the pick up when Stanford guard David DeCastro fell to them in the first round. He will be a 10-year starter and is a perfect Steelers player.

Questionable move: Taking Ohio State tackle Mike Adams in the second round. He has character concerns, big ones, but the Steelers felt he was worth the risk. We'll see. He's a good player.

Third-day gem: There was some talk that fourth-round pick Ta'amu Alameda could be at least a second-round pick. The Steelers did a great job snagging him as a potential replacement for Casey Hampton in the fourth.

Analysis: Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert proved again over three days why he is one of the NFL's best. Look up and down the Steelers' draft board and you will see productive college players. There is some risk with Adams, but you almost have to trust Colbert on that one.

Grade: A

Of the draft grades that have been released, the Steelers have not received less than a "B", as many football experts feel the Steelers may have had one of the most productive drafts in the league.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers 2012, stay tuned to this StoryStream and SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more news and analysis on the Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Steelers Get A- From SB Nation

SB Nation has its NFL Draft grades out. That the Steelers were able to get David DeCastro in the first round was a coup for them, so it's no surprise that they fare pretty well, earning an A-.

The Steelers get the benefit of the doubt with a few of their picks considering they've been among the elite when it comes to the draft. David DeCastro is an immediate starter and paired with Maurkice Pouncey, this offensive line is headed in the right direction. Add in Mike Adams, an awesome value in Round 2, and the Steelers made huge improvements to their offensive line. I like the Sean Spence pick in Round 3. Alameda Ta'amu has the potential to be an absolute steal in Round 4. He's a possible Casey Hampton replacement. Chris Rainey was another good value pick.

This article only contains AFC teams. Other interesting grades: the Raiders get an F, and the Jaguars get a D. The Bengals get an A. The Cleveland Browns for some reason get a B despite a bizarre draft that included reaches for Brandon Weeden and Mitchell Schwartz.

You can find NFC grades here.

For more draft action, be sure to check out Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Pittsburgh Steelers Receive 'B' Grade From Mel Kiper

The 2012 NFL Draft officially wrapped on Saturday, with teams using three days and seven rounds to bolster their squads for the upcoming season. The Pittsburgh Steelers added nine players in the draft, most notably Stanford guard David DeCastro, who fell into Pittsburgh's lap as the No. 24 pick.

Now comes the time for instant (over)analysis by pundits. First up to bat, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, who gave the Steelers an overall grade of "B" for this year's draft.

Summary: Pittsburgh got one of the total steals of the draft when Stanford guard David DeCastro fell all the way to No. 24. Just think about the inside of that offensive line now with DeCastro next to Maurkice Pouncey. It could be a dominant unit. We know Mike Adams has some off-the-field questions, but Mike Tomlin explained to us that the team took major precautions. If it was just a talent question, you're getting a really good player that far down the board, though I'm not sure he has an immediate role. If Marcus Gilbert ultimately moves to the left side, Adams could start early on the right side. He's not a power guy, but has great technique as a pass protector. Sean Spence is a guy Dick LeBeau can develop. He's too big for safety, and can add speed at linebacker. Chris Rainey could be a steal just because he'll get you big plays at running back, with not a ton of reps. He could also be a returner. Ta'amu isn't a special talent, but if he sticks can fill a special role. True 3-4 nose tackles are hard to find. This was a fantastic draft in my opinion.

The Steelers, as they often do, effectively filled roster holes that needed to be filled and added depth where necessary. I'm quite surprised Kiper didn't hand out a rare "A" in this case.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 Steelers Undrafted Free Agents List Grows Following NFL Draft

Steelers Depot lists the players who have already -- apparently -- signed with the Steelers as undrafted free agents. Keep in mind that these names aren't official yet.

G Ryan Lee - Furman
LB Brandon Lindsey - Pitt
DT Ikponmwosa Igbinosun - Southern Connecticut State
CB Robert Golden - Arizona
DL Jake Stoller - Yale
OLB Adrian Robinson Jr. - Temple
G Desmond Stapleton - Rutgers
WR Marquis Maze - Alabama
CB Terry Carter - Louisiana Tech
WR Connor Dixon - Duquesne
K Grant Ressel -Missouri
P Drew Butler - Georgia
QB Alex Tanney - Monmouth - Mini camp invite

Cardiac Hill has more on Lindsey, who's the headliner here, due to his local ties. Cardiac Hill expected him to be taken somewhere between the fourth and sixth rounds, and that might be a bit optimistic, but the Steelers might still be getting a little more value there than with the typical undrafted free agent. The Steelers had four seventh-round picks, however, so these guys are probably all fairly far down their list of priorities. The Steelers had a ton of undrafted free agents last season, but none of them played a huge role with last year's team.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers Wrap Up Draft By Picking Tackle Kelvin Beachum

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished off the 2012 NFL Draft by selecting offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum out of SMU. Beachum was drafted just five spots ahead of Mr. Irrelevant, at No. 248 overall as the third and final compensatory pick of the Steelers in Round 7.

Beachum started every game of his career at SMU after redshirting as a freshman, and while he was reliable throughout his college career, he's undersized for the tackle position in the NFL. He's listed at just 6'2 which is remarkably short for an NFL tackle. At 303 pounds, however, he's able to quickly get wide and was considered a solid pass blocking prospect. He gets off the ball quickly, but was not rated as a particular strong and explosive blocker, and scouts question his ability to transition to guard because of his lack of power.

Beachum finishes a solid draft for the Steelers, who started it all off with two offensive linemen who will likely start and bookend it with another potential rotation player up front.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft Results 2012: Terrence Frederick Selected By Steelers With Pick No. 246

The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their run of compensatory picks in the 7th round by choosing Texas A&M cornerback Terrence Frederick with the No. 246 pick. Frederick has the chance to become a backup in the Steelers defensive backfield rotation, but did not have top flight quickness moving his feet in the secondary, which dropped him to a late third day pick.

Frederick is undersized for a corner at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, but he can be a solid zone coverage contributor for Dick LeBeau's defense. He was considered one of the smarter corners in college, which often made up for his less than ideal speed. The secondary was not a particular area of need for Pittsburgh entering the draft, and this is the first and only defensive back drafted by the Steelers.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers Select Oregon TE David Paulson With No. 240 Pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected tight end David Paulson out of Oregon with the No. 33 pick in the 7th round, and the No. 240 pick overall. It was the second pass-catching prospect the Steelers selected at the bottom of the final round, taking Paulson just nine picks after they selected wide receiver Toney Clemons. It's the first of three compensatory picks for Pittsburgh at the end of the draft.

He was rated as a draftable pass catching tight end, even though he's a bit undersized at 245 pounds and will struggle athletically against NFL caliber linebackers in coverage. But he's been a consistent presence for one of the country's best programs, reliably catching everything throw his way in an offense that does not necessarily prioritize the tight ends. His durability and reliability will likely make him a contributor in the tight end rotation for the Steelers.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft Results 2012: Steelers Select WR Toney Clemons In Round 7

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Colorado wide receiver Toney Clemons with the first of four Round 7 selections. Clemons was taken No. 231 overall, and No. 24 in Round 7. He is a big and physical wideout, listed at 6'2 and 210 pounds. Clemons transferred out to Colorado after beginning his career at Michigan, and has, at times, struggled catching the ball. But his physical tools are his best asset, possessing the size to break multiple tackles after the catch as well as handle AFC North corners who will get into him at the line of scrimmage.

He has a shot to make the roster, and could provide some depth in the pass-catching corps. Clemons is just the first in a run of Steelers picks in Round 7, with three compensatory choices to finish off the draft

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Keith Tandy Drafted In Round 6 By Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers apparently enjoyed scouting in Morgantown this year, as Greg Schiano's new club selected it's second straight West Virginia Mountaineer in the 6th Round on Saturday afternoon. Just one round after choosing Najee Goode, the Bucs drafted Keith Tandy with the fourth pick of Round 6, and No. 174 overall.

Tandy will likely be a rotational player in the Tampa secondary, which will use his combination of size and speed to backup their veteran defensive backfield. He's the 20th cornerback taken in the 2012 Draft, and it's certainly an incredible achievement for the Senior from Kentucky, who started 27 games for the Mountaineers. It's nice to see two key cogs of WVU defense which delivered a BCS win, land two players on the same team in Tampa.

For all your analysis of the WVU draftees, visit The Smoking Musket, SB Nation's Mountaineers' blog. For more on the Bucs and Goode's future, check out Bucs Nation. For more on the draft, check out Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: West Virginia's Najee Goode Selected By Buccaneers In Round 5

West Virginia is getting back into the draft in the late rounds on Saturday. Bruce Irvin was the highest West Virginia draft pick since Adam Jones, but the Mountaineers did not have a player selected on Friday night in Rounds 2 or 3. They're getting back into the action on Saturday afternoon, however, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Keith Tandy and Najee Goode in back-to-back rounds.

Goode went with the No. 140 pick overall, and the fifth pick of the fifth round. It was an impressive journey, to go from walk-on to draft pick, where he will likely be a two-down defender on the inside for the Bucs. West Virginia fans hate to see him go, but can't help but be happy for his success, via The Smoking Musket:

Wherever the team needed him, he filled the hole. He was also a walk-on at West Virginia. So that just make this story even sweeter. Obviously, he didn't get the same attention as Bruce Irvin. But he was every bit as integral to the success the defense has had the past two years.

For all your analysis of the WVU draftees, visit The Smoking Musket, SB Nation's Mountaineers' blog. For more on the Bucs and Goode's future, check out Bucs Nation. For more on the draft, check out Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Pittsburgh Steelers Select Chris Rainey In Fifth Round

With the 24th pick in the fifth round, the 159th pick overall, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected 5-foot-8 speedster Chris Rainey from the University of Florida.

Rainey played several roles in the Gators offense, and though not as big as former teammate Percy Harvin, Rainey could be utlized in similar fashion by the Steelers on the pro level. Rainey, is a quick and agile runner, making defenders often miss on the first attempt. He is also a good route runner out of the backfield and thus a possible asset in the Pittsburgh passing game.

Rainey's slight frame could be an issue in the pros, and he is a poor blocker in the backfield. The former Gator does not project as an every down back in the NFL and would be best utilized in specialty packages.

For more on Steelers picks, follow this storystream. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the draft, there's Mocking The Draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers Select DT Alameda Ta'Amu With 109th Overall Pick

With the 109th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Alameda Ta’Amu, defensive tackle from the Washington Huskies. These NFL Draft 2012 results go against the projection for Norman, whom many scouts and evaluators feel was a second or third round selection.

Ta’Amu was a two-year starter for Washington also playing in nearly every game his sophomore season with the Huskies. He’s a powerful interior defensive lineman that caught the eye of NFL Scouts at the 2012 Senior Bowl, showcasing his athleticism. Most believe Ta’Amu will be a 3-4 nose tackle at the next level.

Pittsburgh's next pick is the 24th pick of the 5th round, number 159 overall.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit SB Nation Pittsburgh's Storystream. For a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers Trade Up To Get Alameda Ta'amu

The Steelers traded up from the No. 24 pick in the fourth round to the No. 14 pick and took Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu out of the University of Washington. Ta’amu and Alabama’s Josh Chapman were the best nose tackles remaining, and the Steelers certainly need one, given Casey Hampton’s age and injury troubles, so this makes sense. Amusingly, though, after the Steelers picked David DeCastro in the first round, the Pittsburgh sports talk station 93.7 The Fan repeatedly played a clip of DeCastro’s offensive line coach bragging about how badly DeCastro had owned Ta’amu (he wasn’t named, but that’s who the coach was talking about). Still, in the fourth round, Ta’amu represents good value as a capable, big-bodied nose tackle.

The Steelers gave the Redskins their fourth-round and sixth-round picks in the trade, so they no longer have a sixth-round pick.

Here are the Steelers’ picks so far:

1. David DeCastro
2. Mike Adams
3. Sean Spence
4. Alameda Ta’amu

For more on the draft, check out Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Selection Of Mike Adams Makes Steelers Draft 'Winners'

As the 2012 NFL Draft rolls on Saturday with selections in Rounds4 through 7, assessments of the picks made in the first three rounds are slowly hitting the internet. Will Brinson of CBSSports.com called the Pittsburgh Steelers one of his "winners" after their second round selection of offensive lineman Mike Adams.

Pittsburgh Steelers -- Initially I had Mike Adams penciled as a major loser in this draft because of how quickly he dropped, but he was saved by the Steelers, who simply saw too much value in the guy to continue ignoring the red-colored bunting that decorates his personnel file. Adams is a bit of a concern in that regard, but if he pans out, the Steelers took another step towards rebuilding their offensive line.

Adams tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine, and despite possessing first round talent fell on many teams' boards as the draft approached. If off-field issues aren't an issue, Pittsburgh got quite a steal in Adams.

For more on Steelers picks David DeCastro and Mike Adams, follow this storystream. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the draft, there's Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: TV Schedule, Start Time And More

The third and final day of the 2012 NFL Draft gets underway on what was once the traditional 1st round starting day -- the final Saturday afternoon in April. Saturday's broadcast will feature coverage of Rounds 4 through 7, and will once again be televised on both ESPN and the NFL Network.

Coverage on both networks will begin at Noon, lasting until 7:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network and running until 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The WorldWide leader makes a call to the bullpen, as Trey Wingo replaces Chris Berman as the main anchor for ESPN at Radio City Music Hall. He will be flanked by Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Bill Polian, and Trent Dilfer with Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen continuing to man the newsdesk.

Rich Eisen will continue to anchor NFL Network's coverage, commandeering a desk with Charles Davis, Mike Mayock, and college coaches David Shaw and Les Miles. Michael Lombardi and Jason La Canfora fulfill the newsdesk duties again on Saturday as well.

If you're unable to catch it on television, NFL.com will provide a live stream of Saturday's final four rounds, with coverage beginning at Noon.

For more on Steelers picks David DeCastro and Mike Adams, follow this storystream. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the draft, there’s Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers Select Miami Linebacker Sean Spence In Round 3

After adding two key pieces on the offensive line in the first two rounds, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Miami linebacker Sean Spence with the No. 86 overall pick, and 23rd selection of Round 3. Spence was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school in the Miami area, and had a good four-year career as a defensive leader at Miami, but he never completely lived up to high expectations. Spence is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 231 pounds, but he has elite speed which he uses to gather momentum and deliver some big hits. He is the kind of athlete who can certainly contribute right away at the next level, and find a place on Dick Lebeau's defense.

Pittsburgh is not scheduled to pick again in the 3rd round. If they stand pat, the Steelers will wrap up the first two days of the draft with David DeCastro, Mike Adams, and now Spence in the fold. Their next selection will be Saturday afternoon with the 24th pick of the 4th round, and No. 159 overall.

For more on Steelers picks David DeCastro and Mike Adams, follow this storystream. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the draft, there’s Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Steelers Told Mike Adams They Wouldn't Draft Him

Steelers second-round pick Mike Adams, who was part of the tattoo mess at Ohio State and tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine, might not seem like a typical Steelers pick. But Steelers Depot tweets that Adams’ selection came as the result of an arrangement between player and team after a meeting at the combine.

Says Mike seeked them out for face to face and Colbert says he was off their board. Adams complied to stipulations … They told him point blank he was off the board

It’ll be interesting to hear what those stipulations are, if we ever do. But good for Adams for stepping up, and hopefully the Steelers can get the most out of his talent. Adams joins 2011 first-rounder Cameron Heyward as recent early-round draft picks by the Steelers out of Ohio State.

For more on Steelers picks David DeCastro and Mike Adams, follow this storystream. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the draft, there’s Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Mike Adams To Help Steelers Solidify Offensive Line

After taking Stanford's David DeCastro in the first round, the Steelers will pick another offensive lineman in the second round, Mark Kaboly reports.

#Steelers take Ohio State OL Mike Adams with 2nd-round pick

Adams will provide depth at tackle. The Steelers have Marcus Gilbert and Max Starks, and Willie Colon is coming back from injury, but they don't have much depth there. Adams might not be a typical Steelers pick, due to the fact that marijuana use is considered a character issue (and whatever you might think about marijuana, you've got to be pretty dumb to test positive for that drug at the NFL Combine), but he's a good pick in terms of value -- many NFL mock drafts had him as a first-round pick. Adams is a huge player at 6-foot-8 and is a big talent, but he needs to show consistency.

In any case, the Steelers have arguably turned their offensive line from a weakness into a strength, with DeCastro, Adams, Gilbert and Maurkice Pouncey.

For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the draft, check out Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Steelers Select Ohio State's Mike Adams With No. 56 Pick

With the No. 56 pick overall and No. 24 pick of Round 2, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected offensive tackle Mike Adams out of Ohio State. Adams had somewhat of a tumultuous process in the run up to the draft, testing positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine and also under-performing on the strength tests in Indianapolis. Adams, however, is enormous 6-foot-7 elite athlete who joins a couple Ohio State products that the Steelers have selected high in the draft over the past 10 years, in particular former teammate Cameron Heyward.

The Steelers added some much needed depth along the offensive line in the 1st round, selecting what many feel was the best offensive guard prospect in the draft in David DeCastro out of Stanford. There's little doubt DeCastro will have an instant impact and be a starter from day one, and Mike Adams could very well join him in Week 1 along the offensive line.

With two picks now in the fold, the Steelers still have one more scheduled selection on Friday night with the 23rd pick in the 3rd round.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Penn State DT Devon Still Drafted 53rd Overall By Cincinnati Bengals

Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft with the 53rd overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. Still's selection was in line with those of most analysts, who predicted that he would be drafted in the second round.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Still is an immense talent who emerged as one of the best interior lineman last year. Still totalled 49 tackles and 4.5 sacks his senior year in Happy Valley. Still is a force at the point of contact, rarely moved off the line of scrimmage and regularly pushed opposing offensive lineman into the backfield. Has a knack of knowing where the ball will go and finding a way to get there. His quick hands and long arms allow him to shed blocks easily on the way to the ball carrier. Can play either tackle position, and has the frame to add some weight while keeping the same quickness off the ball. Still does have a history of injuries, but his upside should offset those fears.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit SB Nation Pittsburgh's StoryStream. For a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on Penn State, visit Black Shoe Diaries. For even more comprehensive coverage of the NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Steelers Draft Pick David DeCastro Will Play At Right Guard

Former Stanford Cardinal offensive guard David DeCastro made a reputation for himself in college as a fantastic pulling guard. The Pittsburgh Steelers will tap into that as DeCastro will remain a right guard on his new team. Current right guard Ramon Foster will be moved to left guard. This news is according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

A source within the organization confirmed to me that the Steelers will switch Ramon Foster from right guard to left guard to make room for DeCastro with the plan of using last year's opening-day starting right guard, Doug Legursky, as a game day backup at all three interior line positions.

Foster has started only five career games at left guard and only one since entering the league in 2009. Regardless of all the shifting and moving around of players, the Pittsburgh Steelers are taking a much needed step in improving their offensive line going forward.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft: Best Available Players For Round 2

Mocking The Draft has its list of the best players available in the NFL Draft now that Round 1 is over. Here are the top 10, which includes Penn State’s Devon Still:

11. Courtney Upshaw | 6’2 1/2, 273 pounds | Outside linebacker/end | Alabama
13. Devon Still | 6’5, 312 pounds | Defensive tackle | Penn State
15. Jonathan Martin | 6’6, 305 pounds | Offensive tackle | Stanford
16. Peter Konz | 6’5, 313 pounds | Center | Wisconsin
23. Brandon Thompson | 6’2, 310 pounds | Defensive tackle | Clemson
25. Cordy Glenn | 6’5 1/2, 346 pounds | Tackle/guard | Georgia
27. Janoris Jenkins | 5’10, 183 pounds | Cornerback | North Alabama
28. Andre Branch | 6’5, 260 pounds | Defensive end | Clemson
29. Lavonte David | 6’1, 220 pounds | Outside linebacker | Nebraska
30. Dwayne Allen | 6’4, 255 pounds | Tight end | Clemson

It looks unlikely that someone like Glenn could fall to the Steelers, who pick at No. 24 again at the second round. It’s true that it was also unlikely that David DeCastro would fall to them in the first round, but if there were a consensus top 10 remaining talents, Glenn would pretty clearly be in it. Still, it’s certainly possible that the Steelers could continue to look for offensive linemen Friday night, as there are several decent ones still available.

Be sure to check out Mocking The Draft’s full list, which includes all the remaining top 100 talents in the draft.

NFL Round 2 Mock Draft: Steelers Predicted To Pick Bobby Massie

With one round in the books, we now look forward to see what the rest of the NFL Draft has in the way of hidden gems. According to the second round mock draft by WalterFootball.com, the Pittsburgh Steelers are predicted to draft another offensive lineman, Mississippi Rebels offensive tackle Bobby Massie, with their second round pick, No. 56 overall.

WalterFootball.com has this to say about the Steelers possibly selecting Massie.

Ben Roethlisberger is constantly knocked around, so the Steelers really need to make an effort to bolster the offensive front so he doesn't have to take as much punishment going forward. If he keeps taking nasty hits, his career will end much sooner than it should.

After selecting Stanford Cardinal guard David DeCastro with the No. 24 overall draft pick, the Steelers could always use another offensive lineman to help protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Schedule: TV Schedule, Streaming Information For Day 2

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a gift in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft when Stanford guard David DeCastro fell into their laps at No. 24. They were able to fill arguably their biggest need and get a player who was probably ranked much higher on their board than the selection they ended up taking him at. That is what we in the biz call a win-win.

But they can't celebrate for too long. DeCastro might not even have his playbook before the Steelers are back on the clock again in the second round, and they'll have another pick on Friday night as well.

The next two rounds of the draft, the second and the third, will happen on Friday night. They start an hour earlier on Friday at 7 pm, but the two rounds are expected to last well into the night. You can watch the picks live on ESPN again, or live streaming online on Watch ESPN.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Steelers Get A Surprising 'B' From SB Nation For David DeCastro

The Pittsburgh Steelers took Stanford guard David DeCastro with the No. 24 in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft on Thursday a pick that was met by some pretty positive reviews. Nobody thought DeCastro would be around when the Steelers picked, but there he was, and the Steelers ended up with one of the best guard prospects in recent memory. But it's not a very sexy position, and maybe that's why the guys at SB Nation gave the Steelers a "B" in their 2012 NFL Draft Grades.

David DeCastro is such a sure-thing. Love this pick. Team him with Maurkice Pouncey and that interior offensive line looks elite.

Guard was arguably the biggest need for the Steelers, and they filled it with the best prospect still on the board. I don't know how this can't be anything but a solid win for the Steelers, to be honest. But guard doesn't get a lot of attention, really, so maybe the Steelers' excellent draft pick will go largely unnoticed. Here is some more on the Steelers pick and the rest of the AFC North from SB Nation on Youtube.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

Round 2 NFL Mock Draft: Steelers Projected To Take Nose Tackle On Day Two

The Pittsburgh Steelers have to be extremely happy with their selection in the first round, as they got a guy who nobody projected to still be on the board when they picked at No. 24 overall. But they can't celebrate for very long because they'll be back on the clock before we know it. The second round starts at 7 pm ET, and the Steelers will be making their second selection of the Draft shortly after that. Mocking the Draft has come out with a Round 2 Mock, and they have the Steelers adding some more help along the trenches in Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman.

The Steelers arguably got the biggest steal of the first round of the draft with DeCastro. But their need for a replacement for Casey Hampton is still glaring. Chapman is a natural nose tackle who would fit perfectly in their scheme.

This was a popular position pick for the Steelers in the first round with guys like Dontari Poe, so it makes sense that they would turn their attention to that position in here in the second round. But the first round didn't play out like any of the Mocks would have suggested, so who knows?

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012 Reaction: Steelers Pick David DeCastro Is 'Alan Faneca 2.0'

SB Nation's Pittsburgh Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain, reacts to the Steelers' selection of David DeCastro -- or, rather, the pleasantly surprising circumstances that led DeCastro to be available late in the first round.

The Steelers just drafted perhaps the best guard prospect in the last 10 years. He fills the team's greatest need. And the Steelers still have an entire draft to address other needs.

David DeCastro is a Steeler. In the 400 mock drafts we ran on this site, and the 4,000 others we all collectively read, no one predicted he would fall to the point the Steelers could take him at 24.

This is Alan Faneca 2.0. This is a Pro Bowl-level player in his first year. This could not have worked out better for the Steelers.

There were a couple mock drafts that speculated about the possibility of DeCastro being available to the Steelers, but they were of the "What if absolutely everything goes right?" variety. Well, lo and behold, just about everything did go right, and the Steelers got a much better player than expected. If you're a Steelers fan, it's hard not to share BTSC's excitement.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Reaction To First Round, Including David DeCastro To Steelers

As my brother Pete wrote, the Steelers getting David DeCastro at No. 24 is a great result for them -- they had a terrific player fall into their laps, and he happens to play a position of serious need.

But perhaps this apparently-surprising development isn't so surprising after all. One mock draft after another had the Steelers taking Dont'a Hightower, to the point where Pittsburgh Newsdesk contributor Jordan Ruby and I had a running joke about the number of Hightower updates we were writing. The Hightower pick made a lot of sense in the context of those mocks, but everyone was making so much sense that there appeared to be a consensus that didn't exist in real life. In reality, everything after the first two picks was in flux, and there was a strong likelihood that a brighter light than Hightower would fall to the Steelers. I'm sure it helped that DeCastro happened to play a position where the Steelers need serious help, but it also wouldn't have been surprising to see the Steelers pick a player at a position of less obvious need if some other big-time talent had fallen.

Looking at the draft board, you can see how this happened, and no pick looks stranger than the Seahawks' surprising selection of WVU's Bruce Irvin, who I until recently figured would go somewhere around the third round.

Look for the Steelers to try to find additional offensive line help later in the draft. They'll probably also look for a running back and, if they can find picks that suit them, an inside linebacker or nose tackle.

For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.

2012 NFL Draft Reaction: Why Did The Seattle Seahawks Take Bruce Irvin?

Danny Kelly of Field Gulls explains the Seahawks' selection of West Virginia defensive end Bruce Irvin, a pick that really surprised me, in part because if you want Irvin that badly, you can still probably just wait until the second round to get him. At least that's what I thought. Mike Florio reports that at least seven teams thought Irvin was one of the best 15 players in the draft. Here's Kelly to explain why.

They think Irvin is the best pass rusher in this draft - something that's not really a weird notion when you take a look at some of the players at his position this year and take into account his 21.5 sacks in two seasons. Still on the board were Quinton Coples - character risks, questionable effort, poor production in his senior year. Courtney Upshaw- not a prototypical pass rushing defensive end and completely different type of player. Melvin Ingram, same deal, and the short arms came into question, sort of a hybrid of the three.

Irvin is a bit small, but he's extremely athletic, and the Seahawks probably feel he can give opposing quarterbacks fits on third downs. He was a late riser in the draft, and Seattle must have felt it couldn't afford to wait on him.

NFL Draft Results 2012: Pittsburgh Steelers Select OG David DeCastro With No. 24 Pick

With the No. 24 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected David DeCastro, the imposing offensive guard from the Stanford Cardinal.

DeCastro is considered one of the top offensive line talents and most definitely the best interior lineman out there. DeCastro was named a unanimous All-American in 2011, and anchored an offensive line in the middle that gave up only 24 sacks the past three seasons and powered some of the best college rushing attacks in Stanford football history. DeCastro should be able to utilize those skills to become an excellent run blocker at the next level, particularly as a pulling guard on power run plays to help open up the interior.

NFL Draft Tracker via Sports Illustrated

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, stay tuned to this StoryStream and Behind the Steel Curtain. For a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. Talk about DeCastro and Stanford football fans over at Rule of Tree. For even more comprehensive coverage of the NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft Results 2012: West Virginia's Bruce Irvin Goes To Seahawks At No. 15

Former West Virginia Mountaineer Bruce Irvin shot up draft boards in recent weeks, and that all came to fruition on Thursday night when the pass rusher was selected with the 15th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock thought Irvin was the one of the best past rushers in the draft, but Irvin going so high was a shock to many. Via Mocking the Draft:

We have our first big shocker in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Seattle Seahawks' choice of West Virginia Bruce Irvin is a head scratcher. He would have likely been available in the second or even third round of the draft. To take him here is bizarre. It's true Irvin has talent, but he's a project player.

This is a boom or bust player. Why not take a player like Melvin Ingram or Courtney Upshaw instead? This is bizarre and will be a shock if it pans out well for the Seahawks.

Despite the critical comments of the pick, it's a great night for Irvin and Mountaineer fans

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the West Virginia, visit The Smoking Musket, SB Nation's Mountaineers blog. For all your NFL Draft new and notes, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub and Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Another Seven-Round Mock Has Steelers Taking Dont'a Hightower, Amini Silatolu

Four players the Steelers take in Behind The Steel Curtain's final 2012 NFL mock draft are identical to those in Chad Reuter's seven-round mock from earlier this week. That's not an indication that the Steelers' actions this weekend will be that predictable, so much as it's that it's clear what their needs are. Here are the Steelers picks in the BTSC mock:

1. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, LB
2. Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State, G
3. Josh Chapman. Alabama, NT
4. Andrew Datko, Florida State, OT
5. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M, WR
6. Winston Guy Jr., Kentucky, S
7. Marquis Maze, Alabama, WR
7. Chris Greenwood, Albion, CB
7. Bryce Brown, Kansas State, RB
7. Randy Bullock, Texas A&M, K

The Steelers take Hightower, Silatolu, Chapman and Fuller in Reuter's mock. These picks make sense, although it wouldn't shock me if the Steelers took a running back a bit earlier.

We'll finally see Thursday night whether the Steelers end up taking Hightower with their first-round pick.

For more NFL Draft action, head over to Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: On Draft Day, Steelers Still Projected To Take Dont'a Hightower

The 2012 NFL Draft starts on Thursday night, so if there is anyone out there who still wants to get their draft opinion in before the wire, this would be the time to do it. With the draft mere hours away now, the guys at SB Nation have come out with the final version of their 2012 NFL Mock Draft. Despite all the time to reflect on the pick for the Steelers, they have the same player there that we've seen for the last couple of weeks; Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower.

Kuechly and Hightower rank well above the other linebackers in the draft, non-pass rusher category. He has some ability as a pass rusher, and will fit nicely on the strong side there.

We all know how Hightower would fit in with the Steelers defense, and it doesn't seem farfetched to think that he will still be on the board when the Steelers pick at No. 24. Whether or not that is how the draft actually plays out, remains to be seen.

For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For all the latest NFL Draft news, visit Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Schedule, TV Time, Streaming And More: Steelers Pick 24th In Every Round

Mike Tomlin and the Steelers pick 24th overall in each round of the NFL Draft, with some compensatory picks at the end. Here is where you can watch all those picks live.