Thaddeus Gibson drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in fourth round

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Brad Cicala, Gibson's agent, said this morning he believed going into the draft Gibson would go in rounds two through four but thought he was more likely to go from the late second round to the middle of the third. So there was some consternation in the Gibson camp when he was still undrafted when the third round ended Friday night.

But after making several calls this morning, Cicala felt secure that Gibson wouldn't slide past New Orleans with the last pick in the fourth round, though he was hoping the Saints would trade up to get him. Pittsburgh also had been looking hard at Gibson before the draft, and the Steelers' 3-4 defense should provide a great fit for Gibson's potential skills as an outside linebacker.

Playing the Leo defensive end position at Ohio State, Gibson rushed the passer and dropped into coverage, doing the things that should fit that outside linebacker spot.

"He'll learn from the best, and we're happy about that," Cicala said. "We wish he could have gone a little higher. But that's kind of the way it goes sometimes."