The safest player, the one who carries the least risk when the Steelers make their first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft tonight, is Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey.
Maybe you have heard of his twin brother.
Maurkice Pouncey last season became the first Steelers offensive lineman since 1956 to earn a Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie and added to the impressive lineage the organization boasts at center.
When asked at the NFL owners meetings last month about the similarities between Maurkice and Mike Pouncey -- and they are uncanny -- Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said, "Identical twin." When asked about the similarities between the two on the football field, Colbert said, "Identical twin."
The possibility of the Pounceys playing alongside each other for the next decade has the Steelers considering trading up in the first round -- something they haven't done since 2006.
Problem is, Maurkice Pouncey may have blown Mike's cover and driven his value beyond what the Steelers are willing to pay.
The Steelers have seven picks in the three-day draft. If they trade a couple of them to move up from No. 31, they may not have enough picks later to draft at least two quality cornerbacks -- a position where they badly need an infusion of talent -- and fill other needs.
The Steelers, as Colbert always is quick to point out, put a premium on the draft. That philosophy and the numerous other teams also coveting Pouncey make it unlikely Colbert will be able to pull off a trade that would qualify as a blockbuster.
Colbert also hinted at the possibility of moving in the opposite direction.
"We'll pick someone at (No.) 31 if we have to," Colbert said, "but if there are offers for our pick, we'll certainly look at that and entertain the possibility of going down."
That doesn't sound like a man who is enthused about picking at the bottom of the first round.
"I think Pittsburgh would love to trade down," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said recently, "but you know Kevin Colbert. Kevin doesn't move around a lot, and typically Pittsburgh gets the guy at their highest needs, and (offensive) line and corner are their two biggest needs."
There may not be players at those positions with first-round grades by the time the Steelers make their first pick.
That is why it makes sense for the Steelers to trade out of the first round. Adding an extra pick and getting a player they want early in the second round is considered getting good value.
There is one problem: The Steelers simply don't trade their first-round pick without getting one in return. They haven't done it since 1967 -- before Art Rooney Jr. and Chuck Noll made the draft the highest of priorities and changed the course of a franchise that had long been a laughingstock.
After all the haggling, the Steelers ultimately will stay at No. 31 and address their line -- their defensive line.
They need to get younger along their defensive front and have the luxury of bringing along slowly the player they pick. They will get their cornerbacks and offensive linemen later in the draft. With the 31st pick of the first round, the Steelers will select Ohio State defensive end Cam Heyward.
Top targets
Here are five players who will be on the Steelers' radar tonight during the first round of the NFL draft:
• Cam Heyward, DE, Ohio State: The son of former Pitt great Craig "Ironhead" Heyward is a Steelers kind of player. Relentless, physical and passionate about football, Heyward could be brought along slowly as he learns the nuances of playing end in a 3-4 defense.
• Mike Pouncey, G, Florida: A dream scenario for Steelers has them reuniting the Pouncey twins and not paying too steep a price to do so. The interior part of the Steelers' offensive line could be a strength for the next 10 years if they pull if off.
• Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State: Like with Pouncey, the Steelers may have to move up to get him. A smart player with the build to play left tackle, Sherrod also can play right tackle, and the Steelers place a premium on versatility.
• Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor: The one-time Penn State tackle has size and strength to clog the middle and, like Casey Hampton, the athleticism to make plays. Hampton is 33 and still has two years left on his contract. Taylor's character may be a concern.
• Aaron Williams, CB, Texas: He has good size, is physical, can play special teams and would fill the Steelers' most pressing need. But there are questions about his speed, and it appears some within the organization see him as a first-rounder while others have him pegged as a second-rounder.
Other takes
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist John Harris and Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly weigh in on what the Steelers will do in the first round.
• Harris: The Steelers could trade up in the first round for Florida guard Mike Pouncey or California defensive end Cameron Jordan. They could trade down for an extra pick in the second round if their targeted players at No. 31 are off the board. Based on need and availability, I see the Steelers drafting Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod in the first round.
• Kaboly: While cornerback and linemen are much more of an immediate need, the Steelers won't be able to pass up the value they will get by selecting Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward. With up to 12 defensive linemen projected to go in the first round, sheer numbers point toward the Steelers selecting that position. Heyward could provide instant help to an aging -- and injured -- defensive line or learn for a year behind Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel.
