Serendipitous Steelers

9 p.m. -- The Steelers had a very good first day. Perhaps fortuitous first day is more like it. I'm sure they wanted to add depth to the offensive and defensive lines on day one, but I just don't see how they could pass up talent like RB Rashard Mendenhall and WR Limas Sweed. Both positions are ones of need, but maybe not as much as defensive line and outside linebacker. But they handled this one right. You take guys who can be weapons for you if they drop in your lap. If Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin had a playbook that said you draft this position regardless of who's available, they certainly threw it away when it came time to pick. Taking arguably the No. 2 overall RB and one of the top 3 or 4 WRs trumps taking an offensive or defensive lineman who might be seventh or eighth at their position. There's time on Sunday to pick up those guys.

It makes rounds 3 and 4 critical, as they always are, for the Steelers. If they are going to replace some age on the defensive line, they will have to address it early on Sunday. If there is some depth at OG or OT, then it's going to have to be addressed early on, too. Though the thought here is they are more set on the O-line than the D-line. We'll see.

A couple guys who fell in the draft have local connections. PSU CB and Gateway High's Justin King is still on the board as we enter Sunday's action. And Dan Connor, the Lions all-everything LB is still left. Doesn't mean they can't have very successful NFL careers, but they are obviously going to have to prove themselves a bit more when they get into training camps. King's stock may be dropping fast. Three of the last four players picked Saturday were CBs.

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Big push

8:35 p.m. -- Some big names coming off the board as we sweep toward the end of round 2. Besides the Steelers drafting of Texas WR Limas Sweed, the two QBs, Michigan's Chad Henne and Louisville's Brian Brohm are finally off the board. The Packers traded up with Cleveland to get Brohm and Miami traded up with San Diego to take Henne. A guy familiar to Pitt fans, Rutgers RB Ray Rice, was taken by the Ravens at No. 55, so Pittsburgh fans will get to see him run again at Heinz Field. So some big names from the past college football season are getting the call late in round 2.

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How Sweed it is

8:15 p.m. -- You have to wonder if the Steelers have been living right to have guys like Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed fall to them in this draft. Sweed is a huge receiver at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds. Big Ben is buying dinner for the coaches and Kevin Colbert tonight. This is the big WR he wanted and Sweed is the type of guy the NFL now features. He's a sub-4.5 40 guy, but he's not quick off the line. More of a long-strider (I love draftspeak). But he's capable of making big plays. His 2007 season was hampered by torn wrist ligaments, but if he's healthy and can return to the form he showed his junior year at Texas, he'll be a terrific target for Big Ben.

Highlights of Limas Sweed:

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Groves Gone

8:10 p.m. -- Arizona and Washington may have put a dent in the Steelers plans by drafting DE Calais Campbell out of Miami (Arizona) and WR Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma (Washington). The Redskins had 3 picks in round 2 because of trades and got two quality receivers in Devin Thomas and Kelly. And at second-round money, they made a nice little haul. The Steelers could go with DTs Marcus Harrison, Pat Sims or Dre Moore. It'll be interesting to see if they bite on the huge Texas WR Limas Sweed here. The Steelers are on the clock. Will Big Ben get his Big WR right here?

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Another weapon?

8:00 p.m. -- We're four picks away from the Steelers final pick of the day and there is still some quality on the board. The players who caught my eye are WRs Limas Sweed and Malcolm Kelly. Those are the tall receivers Big Ben had hoped the team would take. Another WR who was very productive in college was LSU's Early Doucet. If they decide to go defense, there are some DTs out there who might be safe picks because they might project out to 3-4 DEs. And if they want a corner, Penn State's Justin King is still around. Be interesting to see if one of those big receivers is available if Kevin Colbert pulls the trigger and makes his QB happy. Big doesn't necessarily mean good, but it's something the Steelers currently lack at WR.

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A run on WRs

7:30 p.m. -- WRs have been taken with five of the first 10 picks of round 2. And there are still a couple of very capable WRs out there in Texas' Limas Sweed, Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly and Cal's DeSean Jackson. All nice values in round 2. Could be time for QBs to come off the board with the next few picks. Chad Henne and Brian Brohm still are on the board. The Steelers are 10 picks away and haven't seen any DTs taken in this round, which could make them tilt that way when they pick at No. 53. Also this deep into round 2, Penn State's Dan Connor is still on the board. LBs aren't exactly flying off the board, but Connor was a playmaker for the Nittany Lions. Justin King is still available, too.

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Find a good corner

7:10 p.m. -- You can always use corners and I've always thought you should draft at least one corner with every draft. So looking ahead for the Steelers, there may some good second-round value when they get the 53rd pick overall. Players like Penn State's (and Gateway High's) Justin King may still be there as well as Wisconsin CB Jack Ikegwuonu. I want the Steelers to draft him just want to hear fans and sportscasters here try to pronounce that last name. There are quite a few DTs who project to DEs in a 3-4 defense. Arkansas' Marcus Harrison, Maryland's Dre Moore and Auburn's Pat Sims are all possibilities in round 2. On offense, one of the top WRs could still be there and they could get a second-tier OG or OT. It's still early, but the draft is moving along nicely through today's second -- and final -- round.

Receivers caught

6:50 p.m. -- Finally, the WRs are coming off the board. But the first one taken with the second pick in round 2 by the Rams was Houston's Donnie Avery, a guy known for his speed but not for his hands. You really do want guys who can catch if they play WR, at least that's always been my thinking. Immediately afterward, Washington took Michigan St. WR Devin Thomas. A lot of folks thought the Redskins would go WR in round one, but they traded out of round 1 and still got a quality WR. And they got him at second-round money. As I stated earlier, this draft is pretty deep through three rounds and there's plenty of quality on the board. At some point, the WRs will be going, but there are some players at OG or OT that are worth a second-round pick. And the Steelers might be interested in those positions in round 2. Or, you could see them go defensive line after getting the gift of Rashard Mendenhall in round 1.

One is done ...

6:35 p.m. -- The first round is over in less than four hours. What an incredible improvement from the days when the first round was usually five hours or more. The NFL has hit on something here with a 10-minute-per-pick first round and just seven minutes per pick on the second. We'll find out when the last time a WR was not drafted in the first round. Their run should start at the top of the second round. Some excitement at the end of the first round when the Jets traded up with Green Bay and eventually took TE Dustin Keller of Purdue. Keller is a top-notch tight end, but the Jets fans who usually dominate the draft audience looked stunned. The look on one guy's face was priceless, as he held his hands to the side of his head and, mouth agape and eyes wide, just looked straight ahead. Worse yet, the Giants, who finished round 1, had a good laugh on their cross-town rivals. The Giants finished things up by selecting Miami S Kenny Phillips.

Steelers shake up the board?

6:10 p.m. -- You have to wonder how the Steelers selection of RB Rashard Mendenhall affected Tennessee's pick at No. 24. The Titans took East Carolina RB Chris Johnson, a nice back, but one who you might be able to get in round 2. Unless someone is looking WR at this point, a lot of first-round talent is off the board. You may see another QB here -- such as Michigan's Chad Henne or Louisville's Brian Brohm -- go to the late pickers. Not one WR has been selected yet. Although people feel this isn't a great WR draft, some team is going to get very good value late in round 1.

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MENDENHALL MAKES 'EM HAPPY

6 p.m. -- Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert are very pleased with RB Rashard Mendenhall dropping to them at No. 23 overall. It's obvious, and Colbert actually nearly said as much, they were stunned he was available. I think the Steelers already feel this is a successful day, and they draft late in round 2. Now another wait begins.

A look at Mendenhall:

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STEELERS PICK MENDENHALL

5:45 p.m. -- The Steelers got a gift. Rashard Mendenhall is a terrific back who wasn't beat up with a lot of carries at Illinois. He's a 5-foot-11, 225-pound back who likes to hammer it up inside. He gained 1,681 yards last year for the Illini, who went to the Rose Bowl. The Steelers can't believe their good fortune. This is a top-notch pick.

5:39 p.m. -- Dallas selects Felix Jones. Steelers on the clock.

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One to go ...

5:35 p.m. -- Shocker that Atlanta traded up to take Sam Baker. Not that he's bad, he's a tackle from USC after all, but it's unbelieveable Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall is still out there. I'd be stunned if Dallas passed on him, though Jerry Jones may stay loyal to his Arkansas roots and take Razorbacks RB Felix Jones. And the Steelers, if Dallas passes on Mendenhall, would have him to choose from as well as any of the WRs. Not that it's a rich WR class, but you can get that big WR Big Ben wants. Limas Sweed of Texas or Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma are both there. None may be worth the No. 23 pick, but you have to consider them. And if you go to the defensive side of the ball, you still have North Carolina's Kentwan Balmer, who fits the 3-4 DE prototype. The Steelers will be on the clock in a matter of moments and they'll have plenty to choose from, or can still trade down. Now the real fun starts.

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Shaping up

5:25 p.m. -- This is shaping up as very interesting for the Steelers. Tampa Bay, who everyone thought might go WR, takes Aquib Talib the CB from Kansas. Washington needs receiver help and likely will take Michigan State's Devin Smith here or maybe Limas Sweed of Texas. The Cowboys have hinted around about taking a RB at No. 22, and that could be Rashard Mendenhall or Arkansas' Felix Jones. But either way, look at what the Steelers could get if they wanted: One of the top 2 receivers in the draft or if Mendenhall's still there, the No. 2 RB in the draft. And they still could take a big DE type, like North Carolina's Kentwan Balmer.

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Otah goes to Carolina

5:15 p.m. -- The Carolina Panthers maneuver a trade with the Eagles to nab big Jeff Otah from Pitt. They give up this year's second and fourth-round picks and next years first-round pick to seal the deal.

A look at Jeff Otah:

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A Pitt guy is picked ... kinda

5:09 p.m. -- The Ravens move back up to No. 18 and pick 1-AA QB Joe Flacco of Delaware. Flacco was at one time a Pitt player but left the program after he was put behind Tyler Palko. He's been moving up all the draft boards, but this may be a bit of a high pick. Certainly is a need pick for the Ravens, but maybe they could have stayed at No. 26 and still had him. The next few picks may unload some of the WRs, particularly Tampa Bay and Washington. Dallas may go WR, too, so you might see guys like Texas' Limas Sweed, Michigan State's Devin Thomas and Cal's DeSean Jackson go pretty quickly. Steelers will have a shot, perhaps, at Jeff Otah, unless Carolina grabs him with this pick after trading with the Eagles for the No. 19 pick.

Some highlights of Flacco:

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Otah slides ...

4:40 p.m. -- Chicago's pick of OT Chris Williams means Pitt's Jeff Otah slides down the board a bit, but he's going to be a terrific pick and it could come in the next group of picks. Detroit up next has to be excited that the Bears passed on Rashard Mendenall, the Illinois RB. The Lions could use a tough back like Mendenhall and with Mike Martz out as offensive coordinator, look for the Lions to run a lot more. Arizona would love to get a RB to push Edgerrin James, but the Lions could spoil that. Looking past Arizona at No. 16, you have Kansas City again and look for them to take Branden Albert. ESPN is yakking about Philadelphia moving up to take Albert, we'll see if they can swing that deal with Arizona to do so. Not a bad idea for the Cards to trade because if the Lions take Mendenhall, they can slide down and still get a corner or offensive lineman.

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Otah to Carolina?

4:30 p.m. -- Carolina is expected to take an offensive lineman, and it could be Pitt's Jeff Otah. The Bears, Lions and Cardinals are next and you could see two big RBs -- Rashard Mendenhall and Jonathan Stewart -- go two of those three teams. G Branden Albert of Virginia is still out there and may fall all the way to the Chiefs at No. 17, which would be a great value pick for the Chiefs. Things seem too calm for it to be draft day. Mel Kiper isn't going berserk and the tone here in the press room at the Steelers HQ is pretty calm. Maybe the Steelers will stir the pot a bit. Not likely, but one never knows.

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The evil empire selects ...

4:20 p.m. -- I guess the Patriots know more then the so-called experts by drafting Tennessee ILB Jerod Mayo. A lot of folks had Mayo as the third- or fourth-best ILB on their board, but New England does a great job taking talent that may be a half-rung below the top and making it top-rung talent. There isn't a Brady Quinn type player in this draft, but the great offensive linemen are still out there. I'm a big fan of Branden Albert the Virginia G, but he's dropping into the second ten. I think you'll start to see a bit of a run on O-linemen and corners through the next ten.

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Are you jaggin' me?

4:05 p.m. -- Wow, you trade up 18 spots to take Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida? Granted, he's not there at No. 26, but the Jaguars, in my opinion, reached big time. Yes, he's the third best DE available, but the Jags need more help on the interior D-Line than at end. And to boot, you give up two 3rd-round picks and a 4th as well as swapping No. 1's. Great trade for the Ravens. Having a lot of 3rd-round choices in this draft is great because it has nice depth through three rounds.

Looks like Cincinnati will take the guy they wanted all along, LB Keith Rivers of USC. After that, New England picks and you may see Branden Albert go at that point. Not bad for New England picking up an extra 3rd-round pick and still get the top G in the draft. Steelers fans may hate them, but you can see why the Pats are always near the top in the AFC.

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Rooney sighting

3:58 p.m. -- Steelers chairman Dan Rooney just wandered into the press room here. The Steelers "war room" must be in a wait-and-see mode. When the boss comes out to mix with the press corps, it may be a bit of a break in the room where the Steelers are making their decision.

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Rivals Back to Back

3:50 p.m. -- New England gets Gholston taken out from under them by the rival Jets, coach Eric Mangini just loves doing this to Bill Belichick and a lot of fans love Mangini for it, but the Pats are still in terrific shape. G Branden Albert as well as USC's OLB Keith Rivers, the No. 1 outside 'backer in the draft is available. Great place to pick for those reasons.

Baltimore and Cincinnati next. Steelers get to see what their division rivals do with their No. 1 selections.

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J-E-T-S pick pick pick

3:33 -- The Jets and Patriots pick Nos. 7 and 8 in the draft. The Jets on the clock now, like a lot of teams, may want to trade down, but may not find takers. The Jets needs interior D-linemen and linebackers. They also need offensive linemen. They could take Virginia G Branden Albert here, leaving the Patriots to salivate at the chance to take Ohio St. DE Vernon Gholston. What a break for New England if he falls to them. He's a terrific pass rusher, and New England has a need there. The rich get richer.

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Trade?

3:26 -- The Saints have to be going crazy about now. Dorsey's still on the board and the Chiefs won't take him at No.5. Doubtful the Jets will at 6, either. Kansas City owns Minnesota's pick at No. 17 so they may be a candidate to trade down to the Saints 10 spot. If you're going to see an early trade, it could be right here.

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It Begins ...

3:15 -- Finally, all the hype is over and The Draft, or the draft depending on how you look at it, has begun. No real surpirses at Nos. 1 and 2, with the Long boys, Jake and Chris, going to Miami and St. Louis. Atlanta just took Matt Ryan and now the fun starts. Oakland is looking at Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, but Glenn Dorsey, the LSU DT, is arugably the best player on the board. The Raiders just plunked a lot of money into their interior line so maybe McFadden gets the nod here. You can bet New Orleans is ringing the phone off the hook to get up from No. 10 to No. 4 to draft Dorsey, who they covet. Must be a Louisiana thing.

We'll have more all day. Still a lot of time until the Steelers draft No. 23.