5th Round Analysis: LB Chris Carter a "hard fit" due to views of him being a 4-3 DE

By Dale Grdnic

PITTSBURGH -- After bolstering their secondary with cornerback picks in the third and fourth rounds, the Pittsburgh Steelers took their customary outside linebacker in Chris Carter during the fifth round of the NFL Draft Saturday.

Carter, a 6-foot-1, 248-pound defensive end at Fresno State, believed that he can make it as an outside linebacker because he is similar in stature to Steelers Pro-Bowler James Harrison.

"I respect both Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, but I watched a lot of Harrison (in) college,'' Carter said. "(It's) going to be an honor to be in the same locker room with that guy. ... I watched him all the time.

"All I used to do was sit at home and watch the NFL Network to watch this guy. He plays with passion. To be a player of that caliber is something I dream about, and I definitely plan on making that dream come true.''

At first blush, Carter certainly appears to be a long shot to even make the Steelers, let alone excel. At most, he's a project who needs a lot of work, despite a tremendous upside and potential.

"He's a hard fit....