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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Steelers Need Help At ILB, Offensive Line

This four-round 2012 NFL mock draft over at Mocking The Draft is entertaining, but perhaps not ideal for the Steelers, who would get these players:

1. Mike Adams, T, Ohio State
2. Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
3. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
4. Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami

As John Stephens of Behind The Steel Curtain points out in the comments, this doesn't address the Steelers' needs particularly well.

Their 3 biggest needs are not addressed at all, being G, ILB, and NT.

The Steelers need to do a better job protecting their QB, but that needs to start with the Gs who are bad to awful. At Tackle we just signed Colon long term and we’ve got Marcus Gilbert who’s done very well for a rookie. I also believe the Steelers will likely resign Starks to another 2 year deal.

OLB, I can see, but not as much as ILB.

It's true that the Steelers don't always draft for need, and especially not in the first round. But they do usually get to their needs eventually. A lot of fans wanted the Steelers to pick a cornerback in the first round last year, and they didn't, but they did take corners in the third and fourth rounds. It's very hard to see them taking a wide receiver in the first four rounds, as they're in great shape at that position even if Hines Ward departs, and the LaMichael James pick seems a little farfetched as well, for the same reason.

Two local players go in the first round in this one: Penn State's Devon Still at No. 24, and West Virginia's Bruce Irvin at No. 31.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.