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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Devon Still At No. 8, Steelers Take Dontari Poe In SB Nation's Latest

SB Nation has Penn State's Devon Still going to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8 in its latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

The hype machine is pushing Michael Brockers pretty hard, but Still looks like the best interior defensive lineman in this draft, especially for a 4-3 team like the Panthers. Still has the strength to bolster the inside wall and can also apply pressure to the backfield.

Still used to appear in this spot pretty routinely, until a few weeks ago, when the mock draft punditocracy decided it liked Brockers better, causing Still to fall down boards all the way to the 20s. We'll see what happens, but right now, assessments of Still's likely spot in the draft are all over the place.

More: Six-Round NFL Mock Draft

The Steelers, meanwhile, take Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe. Poe has been a popular pick for the Steelers in recent weeks, since he represents a good match of value and need.

The Steelers have been busy clearing cap space, knowing that they need to make some major moves to add talent to an aging defense that had no answer for Tim Tebow in the playoffs. Poe is the best player available on the board in our manufactured history of the 2012 NFL Draft. The 350 pound tackle from Memphis would be an excellent replacement for Casey Hampton.

Well, the Steelers are clearing cap space not necessarily to make "major moves," but simply because they were a long way from getting under the cap. The rest of the point stands, though. Nose tackle is one of several positions at which the Steelers are aging.

For more on Penn State, check out Black Shoe Diaries. For more on the Steelers, there's Behind The Steel Curtain.

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