Steelers' Draft and Undrafted FAs

Round 1: G David DeCastro, Stanford
This was a dream scenario for the Steelers.  DeCastro will be able to be plugged into right guard from day one.  The hope is likely that Ramon Foster will be able to take over the left guard position now.  That would allow Doug Legursky to serve as a back-up to all of the interior line positions.  He and Trai Essex provide very good depth for the Steelers' interior.  DeCastro is a rare find as he is a right guard with the ability to pull left.  Typically, left guards are the pulling guards meaning more runs would go to the right side of the line.  DeCastro allows the Steelers to run to each side equally.
*Fills the need for a starting guard.

Round 2: OT Mike Adams, Ohio State
There were many mock drafts out there that had Mike Adams going to the Steelers in round one.  He does have some off-the-field issues, but if he can get past those he is an immense talent.  He is the perfect build for a left tackle.  Is he ready to start?  No, but with a couple seasons of work he may take over at the position.  That would allow Marcus Gilbert to move back to the right which is a better fit for him.  Willie Colon is a good lineman, but he can't seem to stay healthy.
*Fills the need for potential starting left tackle.

Round 3: ILB Sean Spence, Miami
Spence played OLB at Miami.  He is a bit small for the Steelers system, though.  To understand why Spence will work out, a person must understand the Steelers defense.  There are two inside linebackers in the 3-4; the buck linebacker and the mack linebacker.  The buck position requires a bigger body to take on blocks.  That is where James Farrior played last year.  The mack position is more of a read-react and fly to the ball position.  That will be Spence's position.  He will be a back-up to Lawrence Timmons, and potentially man the middle in the nickel.  Spence is a very good coverage linebacker.  Unless something changes between now and the beginning of the season, this will be the depth chart.  The starter at mack will be Timmons with Spence as his back-up, and the starter at buck will be Larry Foote with Stevenson Sylvestor as his back-up. 
*Does not fill the need for a "buck" linebacker, but adds depth to a thin corp.

Round 4: NT Alameda Ta'amu, Washington
The fact that Ta'amu was still around was a shock.  The Steelers made sure to take advantage by trading up ten spots to take him.  Ta'amu is about 350 pounds.  He is nasty as a run-stuffer, but not a quality pass rusher.  That is fine for the Steelers, who will use him the way that they have used Casey Hampton over the years.  Ta'amu will be a run-down defender.  He will come off the field in definite passing situations.  He may only see the field to spell Hampton this year but don't be surprised if Hampton doesn't return after this season.
*Fills the need for a potential starting NT.

Round 5: RB/WR/PR Chris Rainey, Florida
Rainey plays to his 4.45 40 speed.  He's got the burst of Willie Parker without Parker's strength.  I was a little surprised at this selection because this is the second player taken by the Steelers in this draft that had off-the-field issues.  I expected Rainey to be off their board or pushed far down it.  With that being said, Rainey will provide the ability to take it the distance every play.  It's an easy comparison with Ex-Chief's Head Coach and new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley running the show, but he seems like a Dexter McCluster type player.  He can come out of the backfield, line up in the slot, and return punts.
*Does not fill the need for a more consistent running back, but the Steelers may use a multiple back approach to compensate.  They ahve a stable of backs that bring something to the table.  Though, Jonathon Dwyer and John Clay don't seem very different to me.

Round 6: Traded pick to move up in Round 4.

Round 7, 1st pick: WR Toney Clemons, Colorado
Toney Clemons has the potential to be a steal.  Right away he's the tallest receiver on the depth chart.  He also is rumored to have 4.4 speed.  He was likely on the Steelers radar due to his Pennsylvania roots.  He was born in New Kensington, PA.  The Steelers have only three receivers currently under an NFL contract; Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jerricho Cotchery.  Mike Wallace is likely to be with the team, but he has yet to sign his tender.  Teams rarely go into a season with less than five wide receivers.  Once Wallace signs his tender and Clemons is signed to a contract, the Steelers will have five receivers on board.  Clemons has to answer the bell though.  If he impresses, that Steelers may allow Mike Wallace to walk next season.
*Fills the need for a tall wide receiver.

Round 7, 2nd pick: TE David Paulson, Oregon
This could spell the end of the relationship between the Steelers and Weslye Saunders.  Saunders received a four game suspension for the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).  The Steelers also added Leonard Pope who played tight end for OC Todd Haley in Kansas City.  He will be a bit of a project, but he's more of a Heath Miller than a Rob Gronkowski.  He has the potential to be an in-line blocking tight end with some receiving potential.  Teams won't need to game plan for Paulson, however.
*May fill the need for a pass-receiving tight end.

Round 7, 3rd pick: CB Terrence Frederick, Texas A&M
The Steelers actually have good depth at the cornerback position.  The problem is Ike Taylor is the only one with solid starting ability.  Frederick won't solve that problem.  In fact, I could see the Steelers sliding him over to the safety postion.  He will have to make the team as secondary depth and for his special teams coverage abilities.  I would have liked to see the Steelers pick up CB Micah Pellerin who is still available as an undrafted free agent.  He actually has starting potential.
*Fills a need for special teams help, but not much else.

Round 7, 4th pick: G Kelvin Beachum, Southern Methodist
Beachum can play guard or right tackle.  I actually featured Beachum in my All-Underrated Team.  This is what I said about him: "Beachum fires off the ball quickly and makes good initial contact. He played LT for SMU, but will benefit from a move inside in the NFL. He shows good mobility for his size, so pulling should not be a problem. Beachum will need to work on staying lower during runs so that he will have more leverage to move the defender. He has the potential to be a solid guard at the next level."
*Fills a need for offensive line help

Undrafted Free Agents: The Steelers have announced the first 12 players signing as undrafted free agents. 

1. DE/OLB Brandon Lindsey, Pitt - A very nice signing by the Steelers.  Some mocks had Lindsey going to the Steelers in round 5.  Provides good depth and starting potential at OLB down the road.  Lindsey himself wrote on his twitter account @B_Lindsey7: "There's no place like home!! #thankingthemanabove #pittsburghsteelers".
2. G Ryan Lee, Furman - Lee was a tackle at Furman.  He will slide inside to guard if he is going to make it in the NFL.  He also has the ability to play center.  His versatility gives him some value.
3. K Grant Ressel, Missouri - The Steelers need some competition for Shaun Suisham.  In 2009, Ressel set an NCAA record for "combined kick accuracy".  He connected at a 98.5 % clip.  He suffered a hip flexor in 2011 which may have contributed to his poor numbers (9 of 16).
4. WR Connor Dixon, Duquesne - Dixon is a converted quarterback.  It nice to see someone from my alma mater getting a chance with the Steelers.  Shoulder injuries made the move to wide receiver necessary and Dixon took it in stride.  He has nice size for a receiver, measuring in at 6'5" 212 lbs.  His best game came against Delaware last season.  He caught eight passes for 117 yards.
5. P Drew Butler, Georgia - Butler has a good shot at supplanting Jeremy Kapinos as the Steelers' punter.  He was the second rated punter behind 3rd round pick Bryan Anger, according to ProFootballWeekly.  He won the Ray Guy Award for the nation's top punter in 2009 and was a finalist for the award in 2010.  He also served as the holder for field goals and PATs.
6. DT Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, Southern Connecticut State - "Ike" reportedly had a very good pro day work out.  He is about 6'4" 288, so he fits more of the DE position in the 3-4 defense.  There is an opening there with the retirement of Aaron Smith.  Three defensive ends that are sure to make the team are Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood, and Casey Heyward.  The next man on the depth chart is Al Woods.  Igbinosun has the chance to take over as a back-up and project if he impresses at camp.
7. S Robert Golden, Arizona - National Football Post spoke fairly highly of Golden as a safety, but a work in progress as a cornerback.  The Steelers should be okay with that, because they need some youth at safety.  They say that he "has a lot of value as a safety".  It will be interesting to see if he can contribute on special teams.  If so, we may see the end of Will Allen in Pittsburgh.
8. DE Jake Stoller, Yale - It was tough to find anything on Stoller, which usually isn't a good sign.  Stoller will probably be given a shot at DE which is probably the better fit for the 290 pounder.  He was a second-team All-Ivy selection this season, and earned Yale's award for "highest respect of his teammates".
9. DE Adrian Robinson Jr, Temple - Robinson will get a shot with the Steelers as an OLB, but I don't see him sticking.  He doesn't have a lot of strength to set the edge, something very important as an OLB in the 3-4.  He does have some pass-rushing ability, but unless he wows in that area, he will be a practice team player at best.
10. WR Marquis Maze, Alabama - Maze is another short WR, which the Steelers have in abundance.  However, he does have some skills.  He's a deep threat, and he's good at getting yards after the catch.  He has the potential to be a very solid slot receiver in sub packages.  Is there a place for him on the team?  Possibly.  WR Toney Clemons, one of the Steelers' seventh round picks, brought the team total to five.  If Clemons makes the team, Maze might find it difficult to make the team.  If he can contribute on special teams, that will improve his chances, though.
11. G Desmond Stapleton, Rutgers - Desmond is the brother of former Steeler Darnell Stapleton, who was also signed out of Rutgers as an undrafted free agent and played with the team during their 2008 Super Bowl winning season.  Darnell started 12 regular season games  and all of the post-season games for the Steelers at right guard.  A knee inury forced him out of the league in 2009.  Desmond has good length at 6'5" but is lacking gerth (280 lbs.).  He must add weight if he is going to get a shot in the NFL.
12. CB Terry Carter, Louisiana Tech - Carter is another one that was tough to find information about.  He was selected first-team all-WAC and second-team all-Louisiana last season.  He had one interception (which was returned for a touchdown) and 11 pass break-ups in 2011.  Carter will likely have to wow as a cornerback and special teamer to have a shot at sticking. 
13. QB Alex Tanney, Monmouth (not confirmed) - Tanney put out a YouTube video of trick shots.  It's pretty cool and some are likely real.  I can't buy all of them, though.  The basketball hoop shots were pretty interesting because that is actually how I work with my quarterbacks on accuracy in the off-season.  On the football field, Tanney broke the Division III record for career passing yards with 14,249.  He also broke the NCAA record for TD passes with 157.  He tweeted that he was invited to mini-camp, so perhaps he has not been signed to a contract, but has the ability to earn one.