Entering the 2012 NFL Draft, one of the biggest areas of need for the Pittsburgh Steelers is depth on the defensive line. If Pittsburgh were to not address this need with the No. 24 pick, the Steelers would certainly look to add help in later rounds. Steelers Depot has a look at one prospect who might be an excellent fit for Pittsburgh later in the 2012 draft:
It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers will likely select a young nose tackle to groom in the draft later on this month and one player that could certainly fit the bill is Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman. Chapman is still currently rehabbing after having surgery in mid January on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered in a game against the Florida Gators back in October.
Chapman was not able to participate at the NFL combine back in February, but was able to bench at the first Alabama pro day in early March where he did 29 reps of 225 pounds ... Had Chapman not tore up his knee he would have easily been a first or second round prospect, but now it appears he is a third or fourth round pick according to many draftniks.
The biggest question of course is Chapman's health, and when would he be 100% physically. Those health concerns could cause Chapman to fall into the middle and late rounds of the draft, and provide Pittsburgh with a nice steal of a young nose tackle.
For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the NFL Draft, there's Mocking The Draft. Here's SB Nation's latest mock draft.