Up next in the team needs features for the draft section are the Pittsburgh Steelers. THN will be filling in all of the needs’ pages throughout February, so keep checking back for your favorite team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
2005 Results: 11-5 (2nd in AFC North, Super Bowl Champions)
2006 Projected Cap Status: $
2005 Season Recap: Bill Cowher finally got the monkey off of his back and led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in 2005. Qualifying as a wild card and the sixth seed, Pittsburgh did it the hard way winning three tough road games on their way to the Lombardi.
Piitsburgh’s defense was a large part of their success… physical, tough, and aggressive, they made big plays all year long. But Ben Roethlisberger also led a high-octane offense through the playoffs, en route to a ring.
Team Needs:
1) Wide Receiver – While the Steelers prefer to run the ball, the loss of Plaxico Burress in 2005 and the likely departure of Antwaan Randle El in 2006 leave the Steelers in need of a better compliment to Hines Ward than Cedric Wilson.
2) Running Back – The bus is now parked permanently and Duce Staley might as well be. Willie Parker was excellent in 2005, but the defending champions will need to strengthen their run game regardless.
3) Linebacker – While their corps of linebackers is excellent, the 3-4 mandates that they have bodies for that front seven. When you’re the Super Bowl champs, sometimes depth is all you’re looking for in a draft.
4) Safety – If the Steelers can’t re-sign UFA Chris Hope, this will become perhaps an even bigger need.
2006 draft picks: 1st Round 32nd pick overall
Free Agency Status:
UFA – Antwaan Randle El WR, Barrett Brooks OT, Brett Keisel LB, Charlie Batch QB, Chris Hope S, Clint Kriewaldt LB, DeShea Townsend CB, Jerame Tuman TE, Kimo von Oelhoffen DE, Quincy Morgan WR, Sean Morey WR, Verron Haynes RB
RFA – Ike Taylor CB
Click here to visit the team needs page in the draft section.
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Mark Solway