Re-Drafting the Pittsburgh Steelers' Entire 2012 Draft After the 1st Half

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The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2012 draft class has really been hurt by injuries to first-round pick David DeCastro and third-round pick Sean Spence.

I honestly think that the Steelers had a great draft this past April; however, for the purpose of this article, I will omit DeCastro and Spence because of their injuries.

Also, I have taken out the trade the Steelers made to move up in the fourth round, so here is the re-draft with their 10 original draft picks.

1st Round

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Steelers Pick: David DeCastro G

Re-Draft: Kevin Zeitler G

 

David DeCastro is going to be a stud in the NFL, and even if he does not come back this season, I would want him as the Steelers' No. 1 pick.

Like I said, however, due to his injury, I will make another pick for the team, and I have the Steelers taking G Kevin Zeitler.

The Steelers offensive line really has not been that bad without DeCastro, but upgrading this unit is still a major priority.

2nd Round

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Steelers Pick: Mike Adams OT

Re-Draft: Mike Adams OT

 

There has been a lot debate on Mike Adams, and he went from being a first-round pick to off some teams’ draft boards to possibly the Steelers' starting LT in camp.

While Adams did not win the starting LT job for the Steelers, he shows a lot of potential and is currently starting at RT for the injured Marcus Gilbert.

Although Adams has had his rookie moments to this point this season, I still believe he has the potential to be the LT of the future and at worst, the RT.

3rd Round

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Steelers Pick: Sean Spence LB

Re-Draft: Akiem Hicks DE/DT

 

The Steelers selected speedy linebacker Sean Spence with this pick, and unfortunately, he was lost for the season to a major knee injury.

To replace Spence, I was really tempted to take WR T.Y. Hilton; however, I settled on a guy I was really high on before the draft in DT Akiem Hicks.

Hicks is a raw prospect and would probably not play much this season, but I really think he can become a force as either a DE or NT in the future.

4th Round

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Steelers Pick: Alameda Ta’amu DT

Re-Draft: Chris Rainey RB

 

Originally, the Steelers traded their fourth and sixth-round picks to move up in the fourth round to take DT Alameda Ta’amu.

Here I am having the team keep its sixth-round pick and use their original fourth-rounder on the guy it took in the fifth round.

Chris Rainey hasn’t had a huge impact on offense; however, he has been great as a returner and allows the team to carry only five receivers on the roster.

5th Round

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Steelers Pick: Chris Rainey RB

Re-Draft: Blair Walsh K

 

Although Shaun Suisham is actually having a great 2012 season to this point in the year, I don’t think anyone sees him as the future at kicker for the Steelers.

Blair Walsh has only missed one field goal all season so far and would give the Steelers their first reliable kicker since Jeff Reed.

6th Round

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Steelers Pick: Traded

Re-Draft: Alfonzo Dennard DB

 

I think Alameda Ta’amu can develop into a good NT for the Steelers. However, for this article, I’ll take the extra pick in the sixth round.

Alfonzo Dennard was once considered a first round talent before running a slow 40-yard dash time at the combine, which caused him to drop to the seventh round in the draft.

The Steelers have a good group of young corners in Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown, and Dennard would just add to that.

7th Round

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Steelers Pick: Toney Clemons WR

Re-Draft: David Paulson TE

 

We all thought Toney Clemons would come in and take the Steelers' fifth wide receiver spot, but he could never just catch the ball consistently.

David Paulson needs to develop all the way around, but that will come as he gains experience, and he has already become the team’s second tight end behind Heath Miller.

7th Round

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Steelers Pick: David Paulson TE

Re-Draft: Kelvin Beachum G/OT

 

This is another holdover from the Steelers original draft and Kelvin Beachum moves up from the team’s last pick because he is actually on the roster still.

Beachum is another raw prospect, but the Steelers coaches seem to really like him and he has been used as both a G and OT.

7th Round

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Steelers Pick: Terrence Frederick CB

Re-Draft: Adrian Robinson LB

 

Like Toney Clemons, a lot of us thought that Terrence Frederick had the inside track to make the roster as the fifth corner.

I saw a lot of potential in Robinson in the preseason, and the Steelers never end a draft without taking a linebacker.

7th Round

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Steelers Pick: Kelvin Beachum G

Re-Draft: Vontaze Burfict LB

 

Vontaze Burfict dropped all the way from being a first-round pick to being undrafted and signed by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Even with his off-the-field problems, I still think Burfict is going to be a good linebacker in this league, and the Steelers take a chance on him with their last pick in the 2012 NFL draft.