Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe, who has been connected to the Steelers in a number of 2012 NFL mock drafts, made a pre-draft visit to the Steelers Wednesday.

Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe was among five players who visited the Steelers Wednesday — the last day draft prospects are allowed to meet with NFL teams — and there is a possibility it could be the first of his many trips inside the team’s South Side facility.

Given Casey Hampton’s age and injury status, nose tackle is a position of need for the Steelers, and Poe is the best match, in terms of talent and availability, at that position. His stock has fallen a bit since his ridiculous NFL Combine performance, but he’s still a good prospect.

Still, it would probably be unwise to read too much into this right now. One Pittsburgh beat writer — I forget who — recently pointed out that the Steelers didn’t invite Cameron Heyward, their 2011 first-round pick, to a pre-draft visit last year. Heyward didn’t play the Steelers’ top position of need, either.

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