Santonio’s New (York) Holmes; Big Ben Skates

By Todd L. Frank  |   Monday, April 12, 2010  |  Comments( 0 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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When I first saw the news that the Pittsburgh Steelers traded WR Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for just a 5th-round pick, I was certainly more surprised by the compensation than by the fact that he’d been shipped out of town.

Holmes, just 14 months removed from one of the great Super Bowl TD catches of all time (and the MVP award in that game), is now embroiled in his 4th incident involving police since he was drafted in 2006. On top of that, reports then broke that is being slapped with a 4-game suspension for allegedly violating the league’s substance abuse policy. On top of all that, Holmes is in the final year of his contract, so the Jets essentially gave the Steelers a 5th-round pick for a 12-game rental. Does he seem like the guy you want to hand a long-term big-money contract? Maybe the Jets will, but Pittsburgh probably wouldn’t have been so inclined.

With news that Ben Roethlisberger will not be charged with any type of sexual assault in relation to the alleged incident in a Georgia nightclub in March, the question marks around Big Ben are starting to fade. But even with no indictment or charges filed, the league or team may suspend him one game. Charlie Batch and/or Dennis Dixon could get the Steelers by in such a short-term situation.

As for the departure of Holmes, Pittsburgh has a potential speedy stud in Mike Wallace ready to take the reins in Pittsburgh. Hines Ward isn’t getting any younger, but since he was never that fast it seems his heady play and good hands should keep him at a high level for another year. Limas Sweed is still young enough to shake off his early-career dropsies and be viable option as a third receiver and they have some veteran depth with the return of Antwan Randle-El and the signing of Arnaz Battle from San Francisco.

Looking toward the draft, the Steelers will likely add a young receiver to the mix, but I don’t see them doing so with their 1st-round pick (#18 overall). Most likely, they’ll grab one of the elite interior linemen (Florida's C/G Maurkice Pouncey or Idaho's G Mike Iupati) with their first pick to sure up a line that no longer dominated in the run game and had Big Ben running for his life most of last season. Depending on who’s still available at #18, they will also likely consider cornerbacks Kareem Jackson (Alabama), Kyle Wilson (Boise State), or Joe Haden (Florida), though Haden will probably be drafted earlier.

Keep in mind, the Steelers have 11 draft picks, including 4 in the 5th round. Two of those are compensatory picks that cannot be traded, but having so many picks might mean they could package a couple of mid-late rounders to get another 2nd or 3rd, or even just to move up several slots in one of those rounds if a player they covet is on the board.

So Pittsburgh has needs in the secondary and the offensive line and now possibly at WR. Elsewhere, Mewelde Moore is a decent third-down RB but they might look to add a fast young back as a change of pace for starter Rashard Mendenhall since formerly-fast Willie Parker is now in Washington. Also, although Aaron Smith is reportedly healthy and ready to go, Casey Hampton’s big body will be 33 years old when the season starts so look for the Steelers to draft a defensive lineman at some point too.

It should be an interesting draft day in Steel Town.
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