Steelers land OSU receiver Holmes

In the third round Pittsburgh took Florida State receiver Willie Reid.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- When free agent receiver Antwaan Randle El signed with the Redskins last month, Santonio Holmes began to think it might happen. The Pittsburgh Steelers were his favorite team, and he was exactly what they needed -- a fast downfield threat who creates matchup problems and returns kicks.
Realistically, though, neither the Steelers nor Holmes thought this match would occur. Holmes, of Ohio State, figured to go midway through the first round as the best available receiver in a receiver-thin draft class, and the Steelers didn't draft until 32nd and last.
But when four defensive players, then six, then nine in a row were drafted midway through the first round Saturday, Steelers receivers coach Bruce Arians got "real excited." He said it was "kind of a dream" that Holmes might be available as the Steelers' pick drew near, putting them in a position to swing a deal with the New York Giants and choose him with the No. 25 pick.
"We were doing a lot of calling, let's put it that way," coach Bill Cowher said.
After never trading up in the first round in their history until doing so to get All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu in 2003, the Steelers dealt their third-round choice and one of their three picks in today's fourth round to trade places with the Giants and draft the 5-foot-101/2, 188-pound Holmes.
Didn't expect chance
The price was relatively steep, considering that the Steelers gave up a third- and a sixth-round pick to move up for Polamalu. But the Steelers didn't realistically expect to have a chance at who they rated as the best receiver in the draft, and the two extra picks they had in the fourth round made it possible to trade.
Later Saturday, the Steelers traded their second round pick to the Vikings for Minnesota's two third-round choices, which they used to selected Hubbard native Anthony Smith, a free safety from Syracuse at No. 83 and Willie Reid, a wide receiver from Florida State, at No. 95.
"To get a player of that quality, there was no hesitation to make that move," director of football operations Kevin Colbert said of the trade to acquire Holmes.
"Sitting there with the 32nd pick, it's not a value pick. We knew it would cost us more than in previous years."
The production is there with Holmes: 53 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns last season in what wasn't a pass-reliant Ohio State offense. Holmes also averaged 12.8 yards per punt return and 21.7 yards per kickoff return, and Cowher said it is his versatility that is most exciting.
To be more productive
Randle El was more valuable to the Steelers as a kick returner and multidimensional threat than he was a receiver; he didn't have a touchdown catch after the first game of last season until the playoffs. Holmes might not be able to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl like Randle El did, but he figures to be more productive as a receiver. He also gives the Steelers the deep threat they didn't have last season after Plaxico Burress signed with the Giants.
"His ability to stretch the field, that's something we've got to give Ben," Cowher said, referring to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "Hines [Ward] occupies the middle, and we're not going to get away from running the football, but we've got to get some people out there who can make plays."
Never expected to be Steeler
Holmes began jumping wildly upon hearing the news at his Belle Glade, Fla., home, mostly because he never expected to land with the team he began rooting for in 1995. Despite being known for his flashiness and, at times, his overabundant confidence, he likes how the Steelers played as a team -- how Ward averages 1,000 yards per season but also blocks with a passion, how Roethlisberger spreads the ball around in an offense that can run and pass.
Because the Steelers always seem to find a way to get the ball into the hands of their most productive players, Holmes expects to get plenty of opportunities -- though he might begin next season playing behind Cedrick Wilson, whose production picked up late last season.
"Right now, I'm looking forward to coming in and being the starting wide receiver and making as many plays as possible," said Holmes, who expected to be chosen anywhere from No. 15 through No. 25.
Asked to compare himself to a current NFL wide receiver, Holmes picked the Colts' Marvin Harrison "because he has very deceptive speed and he also stretches the field as much as possible. He really gets the job done and that's the same thing I do."
Despite consistently drafting late in the first round, the Steelers have been creative enough to land what they felt was the best or second-best player available at their position of greatest need for four consecutive years, starting with Polamalu and continuing with Roethlisberger and last year's first-rounder, tight end Heath Miller.
"I don't know if we go into it that way, but if we can get the top-rated player at his position, I think we've done well," Cowher said.
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