The 2008 NFL Draft took place on April 26-27, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall and that weekend the Pittsburgh Steelers were looking to steal some talent. This will be the 76th season for the Steelers and they are rebounding from a 10-6 record in 2007, a record that isn’t half as bad, but falls short of what Pittsburgh fans really want: the championship! of the NFL! The draft is a strong indication of how the season could unfold.

The biggest news to come out of the draft was the first-round signing of running back Rashard Mendenhall of the University of Illinois. University of Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed was also selected in the second round. The third round gave the Steelers Bruce Davis of UCLA, a defensive end who will likely trade linebacker in the majors. After closing a business deal with the Giants, the team also acquired offensive tackle Tony Hills, quarterback Dennis Dixon, linebacker Mike Humpal of the University of Iowa and safety Ryan Mundy of Pittsburgh.

What were the media impressions of the Steelers draft, as well as the team members themselves? Coach Tomlin seemed very satisfied, stating that his strategy was to select offensive weapons rather than just a strong offensive line. (This strategy continued as the Steelers would sign 12 rookies free agents) Reactions to the draft pick were mostly positive. Mendenhall became the first running back to be selected in the first round by the team since 1989, while Sweed was ranked by the franchise as one of the top three receivers in the entire draft. Why did the team go after Sweed with such enthusiasm? They were looking for a tall high receiver at the suggestion of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Sweed is certainly tall enough to make a difference, at 6-foot-four. There were also positives for Hills, a former captain of his college football team, and Dixon, who was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

Fans reacted similarly. Everyone is excited about Rashard Mendenhall, considered by many to be one of the best running backs in the draft and some experts predict he will be a Pro Bowler. Bruce Davis has been called a “classic Steelers” type of player, fast and in sync with his quarterback. David surprised some fans and experts by how quickly he was chosen, as he was projected to be much lower in the final draft. At 6’6 and over three hundred pounds, Tony Hills is an offensive lineman monster, although some have commented that he seemed prone to injury in his amateur days. Dennis Dixon received mixed reviews, with most predicting a long career with the team, but not necessarily starting for anyone in the near future.

The first two drafts were the most praised moves by the Steelers and have motivated many Steelers fans (and non-fans alike) to be projected as a playoff contender, perhaps even the Super Bowl. All of this despite the team currently having the toughest schedule of any NFL team. That says a lot about the Steeler’s confidence in the draft.