Draft buzz: Texas cornerback/safety Earl Thomas visiting Steelers this morning

University of Texas cornerback/safety Earl Thomas is visiting the Steelers this morning. According to one of Thomas’ representatives, Thomas arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday evening and was picked up at the airport by secondary coach Ray Horton.

Today, Thomas will meet most of the Steelers coaching staff and go through his official visit at the South Side complex. He will not workout for the Steelers.

Thomas visited the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. The Titans own the No. 16 selection in the draft. Thomas also visited with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins this week.

Thomas ran a 4.37 forty-yard dash at his pro-day last week, in which Steelers GM Kevin Colbert was in attendance.

At 5-foot-10, 210 pounds, Thomas has outstanding instincts, playmaking ability, range and is a physical tackler.

Most teams are looking at Thomas as a safety but scouts believe he will make a smooth transition at cornerback, which makes Thomas one of the most versatile players in the draft.

In Mel Kipers latest mock draft, he has Thomas going to the Denver Broncos with the No. 11 pick.

Kiper says that according to most scouts, “Thomas is the best pure, instinctive football player in the whole draft. He has big-time aptitude.”

NFL Networks Mike Mayock calls Thomas the best safety in the draft, ranking him ahead of Tennessee’s Eric Berry.

Thomas draft range has been all over the board since the combine. Some believe he will fall to the Steelers at No. 18 but the growing consensus is that Thomas will go between picks 10 – 15.

*Meanwhile, the Steelers are also hosting Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn and SMU wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders today.

The Steelers hosted top wide outs Golden Tate and Dez Bryant on Wednesday.