It looks like the Steelers might get Mendenhall. They just showed him on ESPN on a cell phone with all of his friends cheering and hugging him. I still think the Steelers should pick Jenkins.

OK, so my mind's changed in the last few minutes. But you have to go with defense. And Jenkins can also return punts and he has leadership ability. Mendenhall can get the tough yards, but Owen Schmitt can do that for the Steelers, and they can get him in the fourth rounnd.

As boos rain down on the Falcons' for their selection of USC offensive tackle Sam Baker, I'm here to say that the Steelers should grab Rashard Mendenhall of the Cowboys don't. Next on the list is Mike Jenkins. I know I said they should avoid him, but I really didn't think he'd be available. If the Cowboys pick Jenkins, then get Malcolm Kelly. The Steelers can do better than Balmer. He was too inconsistent in college. Kendall Langford is going to be their man at defensive tackle. This is getting good!

Here's my revised mock draft. Hey, a lot can happen in eight hours, like me reading a Sports Illustrated story saying Darren McFadden might not be a bad kid after all. No way in hell he falls to No. 12. What was I thinking?

Now I really know what it feels like to be on the clock. I had until 2 p.m. EST Saturday to update my mock draft for the NFL.com contest. A trip to the 2009 NFL draft is at stake!

1. Dolphins: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
2. Rams: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
3. Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
4. Raiders: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
5. Chiefs: Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
6. Jets: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
7. Patriots: Vernon Gholston, DE-LB, Ohio State
8. Ravens: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
9. Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
10. Saints: Keith Rivers, LB, USC
11. Bills: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
12. Broncos: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
13. Panthers: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
14. Bears: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
15. Lions: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
16. Cardinals: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
17. Chiefs: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
18. Texans: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
19. Eagles: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
20. Buccaneers: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
21. Redskins: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
22. Cowboys: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
23. Steelers: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
24. Titans: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
25. Seahawks: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
26. Jaguars: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
27. Chargers: Sam Baker, OT, USC
28. Cowboys: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
29. 49ers: Quentin Groves, LB-DE, Auburn
30. Packers: Antonie Cason, CB, Arizona
31. Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami

1. Dolphins: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
2. Rams: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
3. Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
4. Raiders: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
5. Chiefs: Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
6. Jets: Vernon Gholston, DE-LB, Ohio State
7. Patriots: Keith Rivers, LB, USC
8. Ravens: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
9. Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
10. Saints: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
11. Bills: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
12. Broncos: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
13. Panthers: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
14. Bears: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
15. Lions: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
16. Cardinals: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
17. Chiefs: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
18. Texans: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
19. Eagles: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
20. Buccaneers: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
21. Redskins: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
22. Cowboys: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
23. Steelers: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
24. Titans: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
25. Seahawks: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
26. Jaguars: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
27. Chargers: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
28. Cowboys: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
29. 49ers: Quentin Groves, LB-DE, Auburn
30. Packers: Antonie Cason, CB, Arizona
31. Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami

I'm putting my prediction for the Steelers draft on my blog because the date of the post is automatically included, so when the Steelers draft exactly as I predict, I'll have proof that I made the prediction before the draft. Here's my prediction for the Steelers' draft:

Round 1: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Round 2: Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana
Round 3: Kendall Langford, DE, Hampton
Round 4: Owen Schmitt, FB, West Virginia
Round 5: Frank Okam, DT, Texas
Round 6: Mario Urrutia, WR, Louisville

Pittsburgh offensive lineman Jeff Otah improved his 40-yard dash time at his individual workout yesterday and seemed to be healing well from his left ankle injury, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert attended the workout. It didn't put much of a strain on their travel budget since it was held at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side.

Because of his upside, I still rate Otah ahead of Branden Albert of Virginia. And it might be convenient that the Steelers have him in their backyard, but the Carolina Panthers own the 13th pick in the draft, and they were the only other team to send their general manager and head coach. The Panthers might be poised to pounce on Otah at No. 13.

With Albert's stock rising, the Steelers might not be able to get him, either. So to reiterate the point I buried in my previous post, right now it looks like North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer is the Steelers' man. He's 6-5, 308 pounds. He ran a 5.34 in the 40, and USA Today ranks him as the third-best DT behind Glenn Dorsey of LSU and Sedrick Ellis of USC.

And best of all, the Jaguars want Balmer.

The Steelers might have to reevaluate their plans for the NFL draft. Virginia guard Branden Albert looked like he was going to be their man, plugging in the hole left by Alan Faneca. But he's been kicking ass in recent workouts, and he's shot from No. 24 to No. 13 in USA Today's overall rankings. He might not be there when the Steelers pick at No. 23.

If he's gone when the Steelers are on the clock, that might mean another offensive lineman, like tackle Jeff Otah of Pittsburgh, will slip back. Otah is scheduled to work out for teams today. He couldn't work out at Pitt's Pro Day because of an ankle injury. If he looks good at all, the Steelers should keep their eye on him. He's raw, but he has tremendous upside.

The next best O-Lineman would be Gosder Cherilus of Boston College. The Steelers shouldn't settle for him. If Jake Long, Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, Otah and Albert are all off the board when the Steelers pick, they need to look for a defensive lineman.

Despite their holes on the offensive line, the Steelers' most glaring need might be youth on the defensive line.

The Steelers could be adequate on the O-Line with Marvel Smith at left tackle (if he's healthy), Sean Mahan competing with Chris Kemoeatu at left guard, experienced Justin Hartwig at center, solid Kendall Simmons at right guard and a competition between Willie Colon and Max Starks at right tackle.

On the other side of the ball, Travis Kirschke will be 34 at the start of the 2008 season. Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke both will be 32 and Casey Hampton will be 31.

In his latest mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. has the Steelers taking defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer of North Carolina. Balmer's stock has been rising recently. He seems to be getting himself in shape. By picking Balmer, the Steelers could be sticking it to the Jaguars while helping themselves. USA Today's mock draft has the Jags taking Balmer at 26. The Jags need help on the D-Line after losing Marcus Stroud to Buffalo. Screw those cheaters.

Of course, the Steelers should watch for Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey to fall through the cracks, but he probably won't.

If they can't get Balmer, I don't think any other D-lineman left on the board would be worth taking. So their next area of need is cornerback. When have the Steelers ever not needed help at cornerback? Aqib Talib of Kansas and Mike Jenkins of South Florida look good. But there are character issues there with Jenkins' arrest in connection with a fight outside a bar last year and Talib's recent confession that he failed a marijuana test. With their recent domestic violence problems, the Steelers need to pay special attention to character in this draft.

So if the Steelers go cornerback, the best option might be Antoine Cason of Arizona. He could also help them by returning punts. If they can't get Cason and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie of Tennessee State doesn't miraculously fall into their lap, the Steelers' last resort should be to get a safety. They might be able to get Kenny Phillips of Miami.

A guy who I don't think the Steelers should waste their first-round pick on is linebacker Quentin Groves of Auburn. Despite the recent love-in at his workout, where he said he's always wanted to be drafted by the Steelers, the Steelers don't need him, not in the first round, anyway. He's only 259 pounds, not really big enough to play on the D-Line, and the Steelers addressed their linebacker needs in the 2007 draft. If he's still there in the second round, then they can take him.

Whatever the Steelers do, they shouldn't trade up. They only have six picks, and they're going to need every one of them. They have a certain amount of need in a lot of areas.

So assuming they don't go O-Line in the first round, the Steelers' wish list should go like this:

Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina (if Derrick Harvey isn't available)
Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami

Now hopefully we can get an update on Otah's workout real soon.