The Steelers pulled a bit of a surprise when they drafted a quarterback on the fifth round of today's NFL draft, Dennis Dixon of Oregon. Dixon's ACL in his knee was torn last season. He's the highest they've drafted a quarterback since taking Ben Roethlisberger on the first round in 2004. Later, with the first of two selections in the sixth round, the Steelers picked linebacker Mike Humpal of Iowa, a 6-2 1/2, 244-pounder who started at weak side linebacker the past two seasons for the Hawkeyes. With their final pick and their second choice in the sixth round, the Steelers drafted West Virginia University safety Ryan Mundy, a Woodland Hills product who is 6-0 1/2, 208 pounds. The Steelers traded their fourth-round draft choice, No. 123 overall, to the New York Giants for their fourth-round pick, No. 130. By moving down seven spots, the Steelers received a sixth-round draft choice from the Giants in return, at No. 194. That gave the Steelers two picks in the sixth round. After making their trade with the Giants, the Steelers selected Texas offensive tackle Tony Hills in the fourth round. Hills stands 6-5 and weighs 309 pounds, and has been a starting left tackle. He was a teammate of wide receiver Limas Sweed, the Steelers' second-round pick. Considered more of a finesse left tackle than a power blocker, Hills has had problems with his drop foot and various injuries, including a major knee injury, since his high school days. The Steelers believe he's recovered from all fully. Earlier on the second day of the draft, the Steelers selected Bruce Davis of UCLA, a projected outside linebacker, on the third round with the 88th overall pick. Davis, listed as 6-2 1/2, 252, would probably play end in a 4-3 defense but he projects to outside linebacker in the Steelers' 3-4. His father, Bruce, played offensive tackle for the Raiders in the late 1970s and Oilers in the 1980s. The Steelers hope to groom him the way they did other converted defensive ends, but also plan to use him to spot starters LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison this year. He had 24 1/2 sacks the past two seasons at UCLA at defensive end after playing some outside linebacker as a sophomore. He was used as an outside linebacker at the Senior Bowl this year. He is a native of Houston, Texas. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
