Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 Draft: Who Are the Experts Projecting to the Steelers?

A wave of new NFL mock drafts has come out in recent days, as the event grows ever closer. Let's take a look at what five different experts have predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers will do with their 24th overall, first-round pick.

NFL.com's Chad Reuter has the Steelers selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams. Adams has the size to be a starter, but there have been some questions about his overall power. A bit of bulk may make him a useful addition to Pittsburgh's troubled offensive line, but he does fit the Steelers' mold.

Further, Reuter has all of the other top offensive line talent off the board by the time the Steelers pick. Though I don't find it inconceivable that they go with Adams with this pick, Reuter has a very different mock draft than other experts, with Dont'a Hightower not even making an appearance in the first round.

Hightower has been linked to the Steelers by other draft analysts for a few weeks now, and he's also an ideal fit on their linebacking corps, so I am still not ruling out Pittsburgh picking him up if he's still available.

Bleacher Report's Sigmund Bloom has the Steelers selecting Hightower, noting that he has seemed to be their target this whole time and that no team—or other player still on the board—will sway them from this pick.

Hightower is disciplined, which makes him an ideal Steeler, and he's physical and able to blitz. Hightower could potentially jump into the linebacker spot vacated by James Farrior, especially if the team isn't sold on making Larry Foote or Lawrence Timmons a full-time starter.

Sports Illustrated's Don Banks is on the Adams train along with Reuter, though he does make note of the team's interest in Hightower. However, Banks believes Adams is a prototypical Steeler and apparently does not think the same of Hightower.

ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., is all about Hightower to the Steelers in the first round and hasn't wavered in that belief. He notes that Hightower's skill set fits perfectly with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's scheme and his versatility will allow him to play practically any position they want him to start at immediately.

In an oft-rare moment of agreement, Kiper's coworker at ESPN, Todd McShay, also believes the Steelers will draft Hightower and echoes Kiper's sentiments of Hightower perfectly fitting into the Steelers' defensive scheme.

So clearly, it's Hightower, Hightower, Hightower with a smattering of Adams thrown in. In other words, the Steelers are primed to take the best linebacker who fits their system in the first round, leaving offensive line improvement for later.

The Steelers take the best possible player who also fits their scheme and meets their need—they don't do best available all by itself. So if Hightower is still on the board, I am in full agreement that they take him. If not, Adams it is.

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