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Tuesday, April 29, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Steelers got their man in safety Troy Polamalu Saturday, but the complexion of their draft changed March 12 when they failed to land safety Dexter Jackson.

In essence, failing to sign Jackson, a free agent and Super Bowl MVP, cost the Steelers their draft picks in the first, third and sixth rounds over the weekend. That's what it took to land Polamalu with the 16th pick in the first round. They traded their choices in the third and sixth rounds to move 11 spots higher to get him.

Most draft analysts believe the Steelers made the right call by trading those two picks to draft a safety who could step into the starting lineup and provide immediate help for a secondary that needs it. But had the Steelers signed Jackson March 12, they would have had many more options in the draft.

The Steelers thought they had an agreement with Jackson March 11 with his agent, Peter Schaffer, on a five-year, $12 million contract with a $2.75 million signing bonus. There was no verbal agreement, but Schaffer led the Steelers to believe those numbers would get the deal done.

But the Arizona Cardinals increased their offer by $2 million the next day to $14 million and Jackson took that deal when the Steelers refused to match it. Coach Bill Cowher was furious with Schaffer because he felt he was misled.

Steelers officials still believe not matching Arizona's offer was the right thing to do. They placed a value on Jackson and already had increased their offers to him. They also were bidding against a team that had much more salary cap room.

But what are draft picks in the first, third and sixth round worth to a team?

Had the Steelers signed Jackson, they could have remained at No. 27 in the first round and drafted a cornerback they wanted, Oklahoma's Andre Woolfolk, taken by Tennessee at No. 28.

Instead of having no pick in the third round, they would have had their choice of several good players such as safety Julian Battle, linebacker Angelo Crowell, quarterback Chris Simms or cornerback Dennis Weathersby.

If they had gotten Woolfolk, they would not have had to reach for an unproven cornerback in the fourth round, Ike Taylor of Louisiana-Lafayette.

It's difficult to determine what they might have done with a sixth-round draft choice -- No. 200 overall -- had they not traded it, but Pitt cornerback Torrie Cox was the final pick in that round. That's a round that has brought them such players in the past as Rodney Bailey, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, Orpheus Roye, Jim Miller and Willie Williams.

Other than Polamalu, the Steelers' drafted projects and, for the most part, players they hope will help in the future, not this season.

Alonzo Jackson, the second-round choice, is a 266-pound defensive end the Steelers want to convert to an outside linebacker. That, traditionally, has taken two years with other players. He might be able to help as a situational pass-rusher this season. The Steelers entertained offers for their second-round pick, but none enticed them to give it up. Some teams offered picks in the draft next year.

"We felt he was really a special pass-rusher," Cowher said.

Taylor might be more of a project. Jackson has experience rushing the passer, did it well and did it against big-time competition. Taylor played only two years at a small Division I school and only one season on defense. While he has good size and great speed, he had no interceptions in 12 games last season and broke up only eight passes.

"He is by far an unfinished product," Cowher said.

They were hoping to draft Texas cornerback Roderick Babers in the fourth round, but the New York Giants took him two spots earlier.

Brian St. Pierre, drafted in the fifth round, is another developmental player who could take at least two years before he has a chance to move up the depth chart from No. 3 behind Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch. Fullback J.T. Wall is slated to be a backup, at most, this season.

NOTE -- Agent Steve Zucker yesterday said getting veteran WR Terance Mathis to re-sign with the Steelers has become a top priority for him. Coach Bill Cowher said Sunday the Steelers have an interest in re-signing Mathis, who signed a one-year contract with the team in June. Mathis, a 13-year veteran, caught 23 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown as the team's No. 4 receiver.