NFL Draft Blog: Steelers select Florida Center Maurkice Pouncey

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Florida center Maurkice Pouncey with the No. 18 selection in the NFL draft.

The San Francisco 49ers have selected offensive guard Mike Iupati with the No. 17 overall selection.

Word out of Steelers headquarters is that the team has Maurkice Pouncey rated higher than Mike Iupati. Steelers are very high on both players. Bryan Bulaga is also now surprisingly in play but the pick will likely be Pouncey.

Assuming the Steelers intend to move forward with Ben Roethlisberger as their long-term quarterback, some league sources believe it should put Dez Bryant back on their radar. However, there continues to be doubts whether he’s even on their draft board due to the character concerns.

1. WR Dez Bryant, 2. T Bryan Bulaga, 3. DT Dan Williams, 4. G Mike Iupati, 5. S Earl Thomas 6. Maurkice Pouncey, 7. CB Kyle Wilson, 8. CB Kareem Jackson

The Philadelphia Eagles have moved up to the No. 13 spot and will move up to select Michigan OLB Brandon Graham which has caught everyone by surprise….Denver now moves back to the No. 24 spot.

Denver is moving back to the No. 13 selection. We’ll see if this is their move to go back a few spots and select Maurkice Pouncey. 49ers likely moving up to select Anthony Davis or Bryan Bulaga.

The Buffalo Bills made the first surprise pick, selecting Clemson running back C.J. Spiller with the No. 9 overall pick.

The Oakland Raiders have selected Alabama linebacker Rolondo McClain with the No. 8 overall pick, opening the door for a tackle (Bulaga or Davis) and offensive guard Mike Iupati to fall into the teens.

With Haden off the board, the Steelers cornerback options are now down to Kareem Jackson and Kyle Wilson. Wilson becomes a strong possibility for the San Francisco 49ers at No. 13 or No. 17. Tennessee at No. 16 is also in the market for a cornerback.

The Cleveland Browns have selected top cornerback Joe Haden from Florida with the No. 7 overall pick.

The Kansas City Chiefs stood pat at No. 5 and selected safety Eric Berry. The selection of Berry could have a ripple effect on the Cleveland Browns. Florida’s Joe Haden and Boise State’s are now very much in play at No. 7 for Cleveland.

Picks 1-through-3 have gone as expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected DT Gerald McCoy.

The Detroit Lions have selected DT Ndamukong Suh with the No. 2 overall pick

The St. Louis Rams have selected QB Sam Bradford with the No. 1 overall pick.

Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams (6-3, 330) is among those wildcards in the first round. The No. 3 defensive tackle on the board, Williams could go as early as No. 9 to Buffalo but word around the league is that he’s one of those players who could fall into the mid-to-late 1st round. A potential anchor of a 3-4 defense, Williams is coveted by Pittsburgh but defensive tackle isn’t the most pressing need.

Three cornerbacks are believed to be on the Steelers radar with the No. 18 pick…. Florida’s Joe Haden, Alabama’s Kareem Jackson and Boise State’s Kyle Wilson. Haden’s stock is believed to be slipping, while Wilson and Jackson have seen their stock skyrocket in the past couple weeks. Haden appears primed to go anywhere from 7-13. Still could get a look from Cleveland at No.7. Wilson could go as high as No. 7 to Cleveland if Eric Berry goes in the top-5.

Cornerback is clearly the most pressing need for the Steelers in the 2010 draft. Ike Taylor in final year of his contract, turns 30 on May 5th and is the Steelers only legitimate starting corner. William Gay is returning on a one year deal and flopped as a starter in 2009. Behind Gay is unproven 2nd year pros Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett.

There continues to be strong indications that Florida center Maurkice Pouncey will be the Denver Broncos selection in the first round. Pouncey who is a top target of the Steelers may not make it to them. Denver owns the No. 11 pick and are looking to move back a few spots and select Pouncey. If Rolondo McClain is available at No. 11, look for the Giants (No. 15) and Broncos to swap spots.

Tennessee safety Eric Berry has along been considered a lock to the Cleveland Browns at No. 7, however, Berry is reportedly getting strong interest from Washington No. 4 and Kansas City No. 5. If Berry goes in the top-5 or surprisingly to Seattle at No. 6, Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson becomes very much in play for Cleveland over top rated cornerback Joe Haden.

Tackle is not the most pressing need for the Pittsburgh Steelers but the team is believed to be very high on Rutgers OT Anthony Davis and Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga. Davis or Bullaga are mentioned as two of the premier tackles who could fall into the teens. Of the two, Bulaga is most likely, if the Chiefs pass on him at No.5. Two names to keep an eye on, however, chances of Bulaga or Davis getting past San Francisco is slim.

John Clayton of ESPN reported on KTAR-AM 620 in Phoenix that the Arizona Cardinals have contacted the Steelers to express interest in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.