Steelers bolster line by signing draft pick Urbik to three-year deal

June 29, 1:44 PMPittsburgh Sports ExaminerMatt Pawlikowski

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The Steelers have signed the eighth of their nine 2009 draft picks, as they agreed to a three-year contract with offensive guard Kraig Urbik on Monday. Terms of the deal have not been released.

Urbik (6-5, 328) was selected by the Steelers with the 15th pick (79th overall) in the third round of April’s NFL Draft, the first of the team’s three choices in the round. The Steelers obtained the pick for Urbik as well as the 20th pick in the third round as part of a draft day trade with the Denver Broncos.

"This kid understands football. He’s a big physical guy that we think can play guard or tackle," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians recently said about Urbik. "We’ll stick the ball between his legs and see if he can do that too, so he has the ability to dress on Sunday and be a guy that could possibly be a three position player for us."

Meaning, Urbik may give former Penn Stater and local product AQ Shipley a run for his money at the center position.

Urbik started 50 games during his college career at Wisconsin, lining up at right guard 34 times and starting 16 games at right tackle. He became the first freshman at Wisconsin to start at offensive tackle since 1996 and registered 325 knockdown blocks during his college career. During his final two seasons, Urbik allowed only three quarterback sacks and two pressures on 680 pass plays.

Urbik will compete with Darnell Stapleton for the starting right guard position, and have Stapleton be the swing-man backup. Regardless of whether he wins the starting job in his first year, he will still provide depth to a thin offensive line.

The Steelers have now signed all of their 2009 draft picks with the exception of first-round DE Ziggy Hood.