Steelers Get a “C” for Their Draft Picks in 2008

James Walker of ESPN has spent the week going back three years to grade the 2008 AFC North draft picks. The Steelers 2008 class includes first-round pick RB Rashard Mendenhall and QB Dennis Dixon in round five.

Picks: RB Rashard Mendenhall (first round), WR Limas Sweed (second), LB Bruce Davis (third), OT Tony Hills (fourth), QB Dennis Dixon (fifth), LB Mike Humpal (sixth), S Ryan Mundy (sixth)

Analysis: At the time, many felt this was one of the best draft classes in recent memory for the Steelers. That turned out not to be the case, but Pittsburgh still got some production from this draft. The Steelers were surprised Mendenhall fell to them at No. 23 overall and took him as a luxury pick.

Pittsburgh had Willie Parker entrenched as the starter but injuries were starting to slow him down. Mendenhall eventually took over in the 2009 season and produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Sweed showed early flashes but could never seem to get over drops he suffered early in his career. Now he’s at the back of Pittsburgh’s depth chart. Dixon and Mundy are both decent backups at quarterback and safety, respectively. Davis and Hills never developed as the Steelers had hoped.

AFC North blog draft grade: C

IMO the first round pick of Mendy was the pick of the draft, as he is the workhorse of the team at the RB spot, and one would have to wonder where the team would be without him. Sweed has been a bust, and I would be shocked if he’s around in 2011, and Davis never really had much of a shot to make an impact. Dixon has had a few starts and shown some flare, and Mundy has been a decent backup.

Overall I would say a “C” grade is about right, as other than Mendenhall, this draft didn’t produce all that much in terms of impact for the club.