Sunday, April 13, 2008 | Posted by Robert Rousseau

Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed defensive end Nick Eason to a two-year deal. Further, the team chose to bring end Travis Kirschke back into the fold in February. That probably means they won’t be taking a DE in the first round of this month’s 2008 NFL Draft.

But if you saw how the team played after Aaron Smith went down with an injury last season, then you know the Steelers are almost certainly going to draft an end at some point.

Going along with that logic, here are five DEs whom the Steelers just might have the ability to get their hands on in the first four rounds of the draft.

Calais Campbell (Miami): At 6-foot-8, 290 pounds, Campbell has many teams interested. As a junior for the Hurricanes, Campbell netted 84 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks. However, he was less impressive as a senior and his workouts have left something to be desired (Campbell needs to get stronger).

Taking him in the first round would be a chance that the team almost certainly isn’t willing to take. But if he dropped to the Steelers in the second, it might be go time.

Lawrence Jackson (USC): Jackson, 6-4, 271, has the size to be effective. However, it’s his speed (4.82 in the 40) and strength (31 repetitions on the bench with 225 pounds) that set him apart. Jackson also managed 17 tackles and 10.5 sacks last season, so he’s been productive on a big-time team.

Jackson may still be on the board when the Steelers draft in the second round. At that juncture, he would be a steal. Some mock drafts have even seen him slip to the third round.

Jason Jones (Eastern Michigan): At 6-5, 273 and with 4.76 speed, you’ve got to like the measurables Jones has. He put up 70 tackles, including 19.5 behind the line of scrimmage to co-lead the nation last season.

Guess is, though, that if the Steelers don’t take him by the third, Jones will be gone. Jones is one of those very well-known sleepers who always go off the board somewhat early.

Kendall Langford (Hampton): The 6-6, 287-pounder runs the 40-yard dash in 4.95 seconds. He played well in the East-West game and accrued 72 tackles last season at Hampton, so scouts have begun to take notice of him despite the lack of elite college competition.

Langford is being touted as someone who may go in the third round. If the Steelers saw him fall to them there or in the fourth, they’d have to take note.

Phillip Merling (Clemson): Yes, Merling is coming off hernia surgery, but the fact is that he’s 6-4, 276 and runs the 40 in 4.73 seconds. What’s more, he accumulated 78 tackles, seven sacks, and 17 stops for a loss this past season. Merling also registered 11 third-down stops, including eight against the run in 2007.

In the end, he’s going to be excellent against both the run and the pass. However, if the Steelers want him, they’re going to have to take him in the first round, something that their recent activity doesn’t indicate they’re probably going to do.

Heck, it’s even possible that Merling will be gone by the time they pick.

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