Mendenhall, Sweed sign contracts

Yesterday, the Steelers reached contract agreements with first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall and second-rounder Limas Sweed. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mendenhall's contract is $12.55 million over five years, including $6.83 million in bonuses and guarantees of $7.125 million. Sweed received a four-year deal (typical for one of the Steelers' second-round picks), a less-than-ideal number of years, as it arguably facilitates the player leaving via free agency after four seasons (see Kendrell Bell, Antwaan Randle El and Chad Brown, for example).

Jersey numbers for Steelers' draft picks

In case you were wondering, the Steelers will issue the following jersey numbers to this year's draft class:

2 - QB Dennis Dixon
14 - WR Limas Sweed
29 - S Ryan Mundy
34 - RB Rashard Mendenhall
53 - LB Bruce Davis
55 - LB Mike Humpal
66 - OT Tony Hills

Steelers: First impressions of Pittsburgh's first- and second-round picks

Guest commentary by Nick Beckwith:

Since the NFL free agency system was instituted the NFL mantra of drafting “the best player available” has been largely a myth. After losing a key player teams almost reflexively draft a college player at the same position, regardless of whether the new player’s talent warrants the spot he is being taken. This is not to suggest that need should not be part of the scouting calculus, it must be. But in recent years it had begun to overwhelm all other considerations. Last year veteran NFL personnel man and former GM Floyd Reese, noting teams’ tendency to “reach” for positions of need lamented “the lost art of scouting.” Yesterday the Pittsburgh Steelers rediscovered that art. And they did it under what must have been trying circumstances.

Round 1
The Steelers' two greatest positions of need were on the lines – offensive and defensive. Offensive line looked like the position to take, with five prospects worthy of the first round ... and certainly five offensive lineman would not be selected before the Steelers picked at number 23. Five weren’t – six were, with another going later in the round. Rather than panic and select an offensive lineman of insufficient talent just to fill a need, the Steelers turned this near crisis into an opportunity. They drafted Rashard Mendenhall and came away with one of the best bargains of the first round.

Round 2
If Mendenhall was a bargain, Limas Sweed was an absolute steal. This is an extraordinary value pick. Despite missing most of his senior season with a wrist injury, some analysts still considered him the best overall wide receiver in the entire draft. And refreshingly, he is not a diva. Think Hines Ward and Marvin Harrison, not Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson.

Summary
It is hard to see how the Steelers could have done better yesterday; they skillfully turned a draft that was breaking against them to their favor.

Steelers' second-round pick is Limas Sweed

Another player the team didn't expect to be available this late in the draft.... In round two the Steelers added Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. Obviously, wide receiver is a huge area of need as going into this weekend Pittsburgh had no proven NFL caliber wideouts on its roster after Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington, leaving at least two spots open. In Pro Football Weekly's draft preview Sweed's bio concludes: "If he continues to make strides in the pros like he did in college he could be a legitimate No. 1 receiver."