A closer look

The Steelers, after making a trade with the New York Giants, drafted wide receiver Santonio Holmes of Ohio State with the 25th pick.

The Steelers then pulled another surprise tonight by trading away their second-round draft pick to Minnesota for the Vikings' two third-round choices, the Nos. 83 and 95 overall.

It was a surprise because the Steelers seemingly wanted to shed some picks, as they did in the first round, not acquire them. Also, two safeties were still available to them with that second pick when they opted to trade it -- Ko Simpson and Darnell Bing.

The Steelers tonight used their first pick in the third round to draft Syracuse free safety Anthony Smith. They had him rated fourth among the safeties available in the draft -- the first three all went in the first round.

"He's a play-maker, has great ball skills and is extremely smart,'' secondary coach Darren Perry said.

They drafted Florida State wide receiver Willie Reid with their second third-round pick. Reid (5-10¹/₂, 188) led his team with 50 receptions for 634 yards last season. He also returned 31 punts, averaging 17.5 yards with three touchdowns.

The Steelers have six picks tomorrow unless they make still another trade.

In the deal that set up their first selection today, the Giants received the Steelers picks in the first, third and fourth round in the trade.

Holmes is the player the Steelers identified as the one they were willing to go up and get and they did just that. He was the first wide receiver drafted today.

"We felt he was a guy who would fit as a receiver, who could stretch the field and he also returns,'' coach Bill Cowher explained.

Holmes (5-10¹/₂, 188) runs the 40-yard dash in the mid-4.3s. He said he became a Steelers fan 10 years ago, around the time they went to Super Bowl XXX.

"I'm just blessed to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers," Holmes said. "Getting an opportunity to play for these guys is a dream come true right now. I've liked the Pittsburgh Steelers since about 1995."

Holmes will replace Antwaan Randle El not only in the receiving corps but also will return punts and possibly kickoffs.

He averaged 18.4 yards on 53 receptions last season and caught 140 passes (16.4-yard average) the past three seasons at Ohio State after he red-shirted as a freshman in 2002.

QUICK PROFILES

1. (25th pick overall) SANTONIO HOLMES, WR, 5-10¹/₂, 188, Ohio State -- First wide receiver drafted in 2006 . . . Steelers love the fact he has speed (4.35), big-play ability, can return punts and kickoffs and enjoys blocking . . . Caught 140 passes, fifth in Buckeyes history, the past three seasons and averaged 18.4 yards a reception in 2005 . . . Returned 11 punts for 12.8-yard average and 11 kickoffs for 21.7 average last season . . . First-team All-Big Ten . . . Has played in the slot and outside for Ohio State, probably will be used at split end or flanker with the Steelers . . . Did not play as a freshman in 2002 so he had a year of eligibility left . . . Cousin of Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor . . . Lives in Belle Glade, Fla. . . . Single with two sons, Santonio III and Nicori.

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3. (83rd pick overall) -- ANTHONY SMITH, FS, 5-11¹/₂, 192, Syracuse -- Rated fourth among safeties in the draft by the Steelers, ahead of such bigger names as Ko Simpson and Darnell Bing . . . Grew up in Hubbard, Ohio, about 75 miles from Pittsburgh . . . Steelers had a faster time on him than the relatively slow 40 he ran at the combine (4.71). Secondary coach Darren Perry explained that he stumbled at the start and it was no big deal to the Steelers: "He plays much faster than his 40 time indicates." . . . All-Big East, he started 35 games for Syracuse in his career and ranks third among defensive backs in school history with 293 tackles . . . His 14 interceptions also ranked third and he holds the team record with six blocked kicks.

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3. (95th pick overall) -- WILLIE REID, WR 5-10, 186, Florida State -- Although they already drafted a speed receiver on the first round, Steelers could not pass him up. He runs a 4.36 in the 40 and averaged 17.5 yards on 31 punt returns last year, scoring three touchdowns . . . Led Seminoles with 50 receptions for 634 yards but just one touchdown . . . Started just one season at wide receiver after converting from tailback . . . Offensive Player of the Year among high school players in Georgia . . . Graduated last December from Florida State . . . His 1,063 yards on 69 career punt returns are second in school history only to Deion Sanders' 1,429 yards . . . His 15.4-yard career average on punt returns is the best ever at FSU and third-best in Atlantic Coast Conference history. More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.