NEW YORK -- The Steelers drafted safety Troy Polamalu from Southern California with the 16th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft this afternoon after they made a trade with with Kansas City.
The Steelers gave up draft picks in the third and sixth rounds in order to switch spots with the Chiefs from their original position at No. 27.
Coach Bill Cowher said Polamalu was the player they wanted from the start and they were determined to get him.
"We felt he was too good a football player to pass up," Cowher said. "He has a great nose for the ball, very instincitive. You can never get enough of those defensive football players.
"We feel we have a very solid safety situation right now."
Cowher also said that the Steelers are counting on Jerome Bettis to contribute this year at running back.
"Jerome is doing great, he's here, he's training. I think Jerome is going to prove some people wrong this year."
In the second round, the Steelers concluded their selections for the draft's opening day by choosing Alonzo Jackson, a situational pass rusher from Florida State. Even though he weighs 265 pounds and stands 6-31/2, the Steelers will convert the defensive end to outside linebacker.
They're hoping he can help them with their pass rush quickly and develop into an all-around outside linebacker eventually. They've done that with many other, turning college defensive ends such as Joey Porter, Jason Gildon and Clark Haggans into outside linebackers. But none of them weighed as much as Jackson as a rookie.
Find more details and analysis on the NFL Draft in tomorrow's editions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Steelers secure Polamalu in NFL Draft round one; Jackson in round two 
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