Steelers Depot notes that the Steelers have arranged predraft visits with Alabama A&M nose tackle Frank Kearse and Louisville cornerback Johnny Patrick. Also, earlier reports that the Steelers’ list of pre-draft visits also includes Boise State wideout Austin Pettis and Utah State corner Curtis Marsh have been confirmed.
NFL Draft Scout projects that Patrick will be a third- to fourth-round pick.
Kearse, meanwhile, has supposedly gotten interest from the Patriots and Ravens as well as the Steelers. Both those teams will choose just before the Steelers in each round, so getting him might be tricky. The Steelers’ immediate needs are at cornerback and on the offensive line, but Casey Hampton isn’t getting any younger, so it’s certainly possible they could take a nose tackle in the later rounds.
Fifteen teams attended his Pro Day workout where he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.2 and 5.3 seconds and recorded a 30-inch vertical leap, an 8-7 broad jump and bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times.
Kearse didn’t appear in Behind The Steel Curtain’s recent seven-round mock.