2012 NFL Draft: 4 Players the Pittsburgh Steelers Should Trade Up to Get

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There are four men that the Pittsburgh Steelers should consider trading up to get in the 2012 NFL draft.

The Steelers are a franchise that has long prospered under the conditions of success. They have found this success due to savvy scouting, allowing them to score year after year in the lower portion of the first round.

The Steelers need to break from tradition and trade up for an elite prospect in this year's draft.

Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

Max Starks destroyed his ACL at the end of a long and disappointing season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger has been getting hammered year in and year out due to a lack of talent at the offensive tackle position. 

The Steelers should trade up for Jonathan Martin, the impressive young man out of Stanford. Martin was a devastating run-blocker for the Cardinal, and he was equally impressive taking care of Andrew Luck's blind side.

I believe Martin will end up being the best offensive tackle in this year's draft class. It's a position not many people share, but I'm convinced he will be undervalued. 

As a result, I believe the Steelers could steal Martin by trading up to Miami's spot, the 10th-overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft.

Vontaze Burfict, Middle Linebacker, Arizona State

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Larry Foote (31) and James Farrior (37) are old warriors. Old and kind of slow (no disrespect intended). Lawrence Timmons is about the same age as Patrick Willis, and he's a darn good middle linebacker, too.

Timmons would greatly benefit from having a NaVorro Bowman-esque player with speed and instincts. Vontaze Burfict is the man for the job.

Burfict has anger issues. I'm sure Dick LeBeau would hate to have a guy like that roaming the middle of the field (sarcasm included).

Burfict could be the yin to Troy Polamalu's yang.

I have no doubts that Burfict would benefit from being drafted into an organization like the Steelers. He would learn to be a professional, and the Steelers would wrap up their middle linebacker needs for about the next decade.

I'm guessing they could probably convince either the Chargers or Bears (18th or 19th overall) to part with their pick to make this become a reality.

Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama

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One of the best ways to protect the health of your quarterback is by having an exceptional runner who can take advantage of any mistake the opposing defense may make.

Rashard Mendenhall isn't a bad back, but he's no game-breaker, either. He is good at reading plays, but he lacks the real burst and speed you need to take full advantage of his reads. 

Trent Richardson might fall a bit on draft day. He is fully worthy of a top-five pick, but I'm guessing we might see him fall outside the top-ten. 

If he does, the Steelers should strongly consider trading up. He would be an absolute steal if they could convince the Seattle Seahawks to part with the 12th-overall pick.

Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

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The Steelers were the worst team in the NFL at creating turnovers in 2011, forcing only 15 the entire year. This is a statistic that should never occur on a team that features Troy Polamalu. Unfortunately, Polamalu hasn't had much help in that department lately.

Morris Claiborne would add a dynamic piece to Dick LeBeau's chess set, and I imagine his presence would greatly influence the amount of turnovers they have in 2012.

In the last two years, Claiborne has intercepted 11 passes in the brutally tough SEC. 

I grade him higher than last year's sensation, Patrick Peterson. 

It would be a stretch for the Steelers to trade up far enough to snag this elite playmaker, but it's a risk I believe they should consider taking if he falls past the Jaguars' seventh-overall pick.