Steelers MMQB: NFL Offseason News
By Kim Myers
Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 Number 1 pick Jarvis Jones. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
What We Learned This Week in the NFL Offseason:
- 2013 NFL Draft concludes
- New York Jets pick Geno Smith and release Tim Tebow
- Packers sign Aaron Rodgers to giant contract extension
- Steelers finish up draft weekend by signing undrafted free agents
Each year the NFL Draft becomes a bigger and bigger spectacle. Maybe because each year we’ve somehow grown hungrier and hungrier for even the tiniest bit of NFL action by April. Whatever the reason, NFL junkies were full by Sunday night after seven rounds of solid picks, surprising picks, unpredictable trades, and Roger Goodell bro-hugs. With the No. 1 pick overall the Kansas City Chiefs made OT Eric Fisher from Central Michigan the answer to many a trivia question for years to come. Andy Reid made his first non-barbeque related move in Kansas City by drafting the tackle and hoping the unsexy pick proves to be a smart one. Other notable picks from the weekend included the Miami Dolphins moving up nine spots to nap DE Dion Jordan, San Diego picking Manti Te’o in the second round, and USC QB Matt Barkley free falling to the fourth round and getting nabbed by Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Undoubtedly there has to be a Brady Quinn in every draft now, a player who is projected to be picked early and shows up in his pretty new suit with his Mom, girlfriend, cousins, neighbors, and anyone else who wanted to take in the joy of getting drafted into the NFL and then just sits there round after round not being called and getting more depressing by the minute. This year’s Brady Quinn was WVU’s Geno Smith, who was rewarded for his patience for not being called in the first round of the draft by being picked up by the Jets in the second round. Poor guy. Immediately following the pick-up of Smith speculation of the Jets moving Mark Sanchez surfaced but this morning it was Tim Tebow who got his walking papers. The Tim Tebow Experiment in New York has come to an end and they were so nice they did it to him at a time where he most likely won’t get picked up by another team since we just had this thing called a draft this weekend where teams typically address all their needs and wants, if that could happen anyway seeing as how his “talents” weren’t exactly showcased in New York aside from that one shirtless jog in the rain he did. Even with a new GM the Jets are still a train-wreck and I’d strongly suggest avoiding all ESPN coverage until further notice. There’s no telling how low they’ll reach to continue to keep Tebow in their continuous coverage. Best of luck Timmy, here’s hoping you find a nice place in Canada to play someday.
The Green Bay Packers made Aaron Rodgers the highest paid quarterback in ever yesterday when they signed him to a five-year $110 million contract extension. Rodgers got an NFL record breaking $62.5 million guaranteed, blowing Joe Flacco’s deal right out of the water. Apparently Rodgers’ cap-number should stay relatively manageable for the life of the deal for the Packers, never going over $21 million. The Packers just resigned Clay Matthews to an extension last month, and apparently had made re-signing Rodgers a priority after that. Rodgers and Flacco now join Drew Brees to have the biggest contracts of quarterbacks with just one Super Bowl victory. If only this kind of money was floating around in Trent Dilfer’s time.
Your Pittsburgh Steelers concluded the 2013 NFL Draft weekend by adding 15 undrafted free agents to their nine draft picks. The Steelers made LB Jarvis Jones out of Georgia their No. 1 overall pick when Jones was still available to them at their #17 spot. In the second round the Steelers went offense by drafting Michigan State RB Le’Veon Bell. Some criticized this pick as Bell is another “big back” and Alabama’s Eddie Lacy was still on the board at the time. It’s been reported that the Steelers were not comfortable with Lacy’s toe injury he is nursing and were not convinced he’d be ready in time to risk the pick on him. I’m a sucker for a big back in Black & Gold with good feet. I sure as hell hope that Bell fits into this category.
The Steelers then went on to address needs at wide receiver, defensive back and even quarterback with the later rounds of the draft. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the Landry Jones pick in round four still, to be honest with you. I’m also a sucker for Charlie Batch. I totally understand the move to sign a Bruce Gradkowski to a long term deal hopefully solidifying the backup QB spot for a while and I get that you need to start thinking about the future when Ben is not able to perform at a top level anymore but I can’t imagine the roster without Charlie Batch on it and that’s how it’s looking now that they’ve drafted Jones. In the undrafted free agent pool the most notable player the Steelers picked up was Mike Golic Jr OL from Notre Dame and son of ESPN Radio Host Mike Golic. Below is the complete list of draft picks and undrafted free agents from steelers.com.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2013 DRAFT PICKS
Rnd.
No.
in
Rnd.
Overall
Player
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Age
College
1
17
17
Jarvis
Jones
LB
6-2
248
23
Georgia
2
18
48
Le’Veon
Bell
RB
6-1
230
21
Michigan State
3
17
79
Markus
Wheaton
WR
5-11
189
22
Oregon State
4a*
14
111
Shamarko
Thomas
S
5-9
213
22
Syracuse
4b
18
115
Landry
Jones
QB
6-4
225
24
Oklahoma
5
17
150
Terry
Hawthorne
CB
6-0
195
23
Illinois
6a
18
186
Justin
Brown
WR
6-3
207
22
Oklahoma
6b**
38
206
Vince
Williams
LB
6-1
233
23
Florida State
7
17
223
Nicholas
Williams
DE
6-5
309
23
Samford
* Acquired 14th pick (111th overall) in the fourth round via a trade with the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers traded their 2014 third-round selection in return for the 111th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft.
** Compensatory selection
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2013 ROOKIE FREE AGENTS
Player
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
College
Brian Arnfelt
DE
6-4
298
Northwestern
Alan Baxter
LB
6-0
238
Northern Illinois
Nik Embernate
G
6-4
304
San Diego State
Reggie Dunn
WR
5-9
178
Utah
Mike Farrell
T
6-6
303
Penn State
Mike Golic, Jr.
T
6-4
300
Notre Dame
Cordian Hagans
DE
6-4
299
Louisiana-Lafayette
Chris Hubbard
G
6-4
286
UAB
Omar Hunter
DT
6-0
318
Florida
Luke Ingram
LS
6-5
258
Hawaii
Joe Madsen
C
6-3
310
West Virginia
Curtis McNeal
RB
5-7
191
USC
Ivory Wade
C
6-4
313
Baylor
Anthony Rashad White
DT
6-1
335
Michigan State
J.D. Woods
WR
6-0
203
West Virginia
What are your thoughts on the draft weekend as a whole, Steeler Nation?
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