This pick and analysis was written by CSC member SaintsDynasty. Thank you for your participation!

Ready position. (Photo Source)

With the thirty-second pick in the Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select...

William Beatty, OT, Connecticut

Surprise pick here! Well not really, the Steelers were absolutely awful on the offensive line. Ben was sacked 46 times and the running game was decent at best. Beatty has been shooting up draft boards and put up on some weight since ending the season. He paved the way for the third ranked RB in the draft (yes, that is Donald Brown), and is pretty decent in pass protection. While he could take a year to fully develop, he is instantly better than the garbage on the Steelers OL.Another person I considered here was Alex Mack. While it was close, the left side needs to be addressed desperately.Steelers fans can rejoice that they now have a respectable player on their offensive line that actually moves men down field (and doesn't watch them run by them).

The CSC Community Mock Draft is now over. Thank you to everyone who took part and made this possible. Below is the final product. 

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member Drunk Monkeys. Thank you for your participation!

McCoy is running from the Hatfields. (Photo Source)

With the thirty-first pick in the Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Arizona Cardinals select...

LeSean McCoy, RB, University of Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member Friar Bob. Thank you for your participation!

Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

When you look at their situation, the Titans seem at the same time rather close to both a potential Super Bowl and a potential top 10 pick. With over half its DL in a contract year and little depth at LB or CB, their rather dominant defense of last year might be a far more fragile edifice than it appears. On the other hand, if it can hold up for just one more year and they can fix their nearly-dead-last passing offense, they could make a LOT of noise very easily.

While recent Titans drafts make you wonder if they aren't yet aware the forward pass is legal, their greatest need truly is a good, strong, BIG receiver. They've tried developing late-round WRs for years and have little to show for it. Last year's leading receiver Justin Gage wasn't healthy the whole year and only caught 34 for 651, plus he's not a particularly big guy. Last year's 3rd down safety valve Brandon Jones was lost in FA to San Fran, and even he only caught 41 for 449. This actually makes him their biggest loss in FA this year. Haynesworth is a beast but he also was hurt often enough (and they didn't fall apart when that happened) that they know they can live without him.

They did pick up Nate Washington but previously he was the 3rd receiver who despite playing with supposedly "average" receivers and a supposedly "elite" QB still only caught 40 for 631. And he's a fairly small guy so he's not your ideal #2 receiver. He's their new deep threat, which they did need, but they still need a possession receiver who can also help block on running plays and also has a chance of going up for (and coming down with) the jump ball in the end zone. While Britt doesn't have the best hands concentration on the catch can be taught. Height cannot. And the fact that he was still productive in college against rolled coverage even with an inconsistent QB (which ought to make Vince Young feel a touch happier during whatever playing time he manages to earn) is also a major plus.

Rivals.com has this to say of Kenny Britt:

The Good: A tall, well-built receiver who shows good foot speed and coordination in and out of his breaks for his size. Does a nice job using his body to shield defenders and loves to attack the ball downfield. Has a good burst out of his stance and gets on defenders quickly. Is physical after the catch and tough for corners to bring down. A willing, strong blocker who exhibits good hands on all levels of the field.

The Bad: He isn't the most natural of receivers and still lets the ball get into his body. Isn't as physical as you'd like in jump-ball situations. Lacks the speed and explosion down the field to consistently separate deep.

The Arizona Cardinals are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member SirSaint. Thank you for your participation!

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Okay, so the New York "Football" Giants got rid of arguably the best wide-out in the league, Plaxico Burress. They are in the process, though, of trying to get Braylon Edwards from Cleveland, which I think could boost the wide-out position for the Giants. But even a guy like Edwards, who is an outstanding all-star, would have somewhat of a hard time filling in the shoes of Plaxico Burress. I contemplated about maybe a DT or an OLB here but it seems to me that they really need a playmaker at wide-out than any other position. I would love to put the versitle beast Connor Barwin from Cincinnati or even Larry English of Nothern Illinois in here, but again the WR position needs to be adressed. They do have adequate young wide-outs like Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith but they need someone that can make big plays now, not in two or three years. I think DHB will adapt quickly to the fast pace of the NFL. And did I mention his blazing speed? 4.3 40-yard dash at the 2009 NFL Combine is a very good time by this young man at WR. In fact he had the best time of anyone at the Combine. I think hes a great fit for the high octane offense of the New York Giants.

The Tennessee Titans are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member MtnExile. Thank you for your participation!

He can block too. (Photo Source)

With the twenty-eighth pick in the Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Buffalo Bills select...

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

The trade that sent Jason Peters to Philadelphia sent shock waves through the NFL draft. Okay, it sent shock waves through the Canal Street Chronicles Mock Draft. Okay, okay, it sent shock waves through MY PICKS in the mock draft. Philadelphia needed a top-notch tackle in this draft; now Buffalo does, so you'd think I'd be in the same situation with this pick. Especially considering that the problem remains: all the best tackles are already taken. Should the Bills use this pick on the best one still available, which would probably be William Beatty? Maybe...but I doubt it. Beatty isn't that much better than other prospects rated as second- or even third-round picks. In fact, NFL Draft Scout compared him to Demetrius Bell--Buffalo's 2008 seventh-rounder who wasn't active for a single game last year. Would you spend a first rounder on a clone of last year's last choice?

Probably, the Bills' earlier pick of Aaron Maybin was rendered obsolete by this trade...but it's too late to do anything about it now. Almost certainly the Bills will snap up one of the better offensive tackles--in our own mock, Eben Britton was still available at #11. (Andre Smith was available as well--though I wouldn't recommend him to anyone because he's got the highest bust potential since Vernon Gholston.) In real life, some other tackle, such as Michael Oher, might also be available, and would be too great a temptation to pass up.

But not now. The available tackles are just not good enough. The Bills can pick up good interior linemen in later rounds. That leaves the best player available at a position of serious need: Brandon Pettigrew. When your tight ends are Derek Schoumann (15 receptions for 153 yards), Derek Fine (10 receptions for 94 yards), and Jonathan Stupar (pardon?), snapping up Pettigrew is a no-brainer.

"On the field, there is little Pettigrew can't do, and he displays excellent physical tools and toughness." [Sporting News]

"Prototypical size at 6-5, 265, with impressive strength on his frame ... Reliable target who rarely drops passes ... Nice understanding of feeling soft spots in coverage ... Has solid speed and makes things happen after the catch ... Very good blocker who puts a lot of effort into this area ... Uses his hands well in pass protection and run blocking ... Can beat the jam and is physical on the line of scrimmage ... Displays good athleticism on jump balls ... Great overall skill set." [Walter Football]

"Pettigrew is a solid all around tight end. He is a rare TE prospect that can be a factor as a receiver and a blocker. He has excellent size and uses it very well on the field. Pettigrew is a very good intermediate receiver and knows how to get open underneath and will catch anything thrown his way. His athleticism and natural strength make him a load to bring down once he has the ball in his hands. He also shows the willingness to block, and uses his size and strength to help out when he is not running routes." [Football's Future]

The biggest knock on Pettigrew is his arrest on felony charges of assault on a police officer during his junior season. Allow me to be cynical for a moment: people who actually beat on police officers are not invited to plead down to misdemeanors, which is exactly what happened in Pettigrew's case. They are, rather, permitted to recover as long-term guests of the state. Pettigrew allegedly elbowed an officer in the chest during a drunken altercation at a party. I wasn't there; I don't know; but most likely he bumped an officer during a sweep and they bombed him with as many counts as they could come up with. Happens all the time, and not enough to make anyone with any experience think that Pettigrew is an immature malcontent or an uncoachable team cancer.

Thus, the man, the team, and the need come together. Brandon Pettigrew + Buffalo Bills: it's a beautiful thing.

The New York Giants are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member Walter FTW. Thank you for your participation!

It's good! (Photo Source)

With the twenty-seventh pick in the Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Indianapolis Colts select...

Evander "Ziggy" Hood, DT, Missouri

Bill Polian was very distressed to find Hakeem Nicks, Eben Britton, and Peria Jerry off the board, and is, quite frankly, unsure about this selection. Gerald McRath and Darry Beckwith both seem like natural fits for the Colts' undersized linebacker corps, rangy and good in coverage. They would both, however, probably be around for the Colts' next selection, and aren't necessarily worth a first-round pick. As for DT's, Ron Brace, BJ Raji's counterpart at Boston College, is a monstrous run-stuffer that the Colts could also use; the only reasons he's being discounted are a lack of available film and the fact that he played next to a guaranteed double team during his career. If trades were allowed, the Colts would be headed down in the draft.

Though Ziggy Hood's highlight film is distressing in areas, mainly in his extremely poor tackling technique (he struggles bringing down both quarterbacks and running backs without aid) and his tendency to take on blocks high, he looks the part of a Cover-2 defensive tackle. In this system defensive linemen are pass rushers, first and foremost, and the ability to entangle running backs for safeties or linebackers to finish off is an added bonus. He doesn't possess Jerry's strength or burst, but he makes up for it by having the best arsenal of moves and top-end speed of any defensive tackle in the draft. Playing on the same line as Pro Bowlers Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney should free Hood from the double teams that plagued him during his senior year as well. He's also notable for his toughness, and the ability to play through injuries will be a great addition to a fragile defensive interior. Frankly, if Hood plays at league-average ability, he'll be an immediate upgrade to the depth of the Colts d-line.

At best, Hood transforms the line into even more of a pass-rushing monstrosity than it already is, as well as freeing up the linebackers with his ability to take on and fight blocks. At worst, he's a competent pass rusher who adds much-needed depth to the defensive line.    

The Buffalo Bills are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member Satchmo26. Thank you for your participation!

This photo sponsored by Nike. (Photo Source)

With the twenty-fifth pick in the Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Baltimore Ravens select...

Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

The Ravens could use an injection of young talent at WR, CB, and LB, so this was a tough choice until I noticed Hakeem Nicks was still on the board. With Vontae Davis still available, I was tempted to go CB, but their need for a play-making receiving threat to couple with second-year QB-gunner Joe Flacco seemed most pressing. GM Ozzie Newsome reportedly has WR high on his radar and it makes sense that he would because Flacco's main targets last season were the thirty-five-year-old Derrick Mason and the inconsistent and often injured Mark Clayton.

Nicks isn't the quickest and most explosive receiver in this year's draft class (ran a 4.51 through the 40 yard dash), but his instincts with the ball combined with his excellent strength and super-sticky hands more than make up for any shortcomings at speed. He's been viewed as similar to Anquan Boldin and, based on what I've read, he reminds me of our own main man Marques Colston. While playing for the Tar Heels in 2008, he made 68 receptions for 1,222 yards and 12 TDs and led the ACC with an average of 94 receiving yards per game. In his three seasons there, he set 14 school records, including career receptions (181), career receiving yards (2,580) and career touchdowns (21). NFL.com gives this positive-leaning analysis of him:

Positives: Passes the eyeball test. Good initial quickness off the snap. Good strength and lateral agility to fight through press coverage. Sneaky downfield speed. Good burst out of his breaks to generate separation, especially on slants. Rare body control for a player of his size. Can contort his body in space to make the spectacular reception. Sticky hands. Can snatch out of the air or absorb with his body when he feels an impending big hit. Knows where the sidelines, down markers and, most important, end zone are. Good height and leaping ability for the fade. Rare strength, balance and agility to turn short and intermediate catches into long gains. Good vision to cut back against the grain. Improved with each year of experience. Might just be scratching the surface of his potential.

Negatives: Questionable deep speed. May lack the top-end speed to challenge defensive backs over the top, allowing savvy NFL defenders to close off the crossing routes on which Nicks generated much of his success. One of three legitimate NFL-caliber receivers for the Tar Heels, and capitalized on defenses spread thin.

In addition to a previous visit to the Ravens training complex, the Tar Heel Times reported last week that the Ravens were sending quarterback Joe Flacco and director of player personnel Eric DeCosta to the University of North Carolina this past Friday to give Nicks a private workout. No news yet on how that went. After Nicks put on 14 lbs. (reportedly in fat, not muscle) between the Combine and his Pro Day, there's been concern over his conditioning and motivation. He was nursing a strained hammy during that time, so I think the added weight was only a temporary setback. He doesn't have enough of an injury history to raise any alarms as he only missed one and a half games in his three years at UNC. If Flacco and De Costa saw enough good things last Friday to put any fears to rest and if he is still available at #26, me thinks the Ravens will make Nicks their guy in round one.

The Indianapolis Colts are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft 

This pick and analysis was written by CSC member jful. Thank you for your participation!

"Make the voices stop!" (Photo Source)

With the twenty-fifth pick in the Canal Street Chronicles community mock draft, the Miami Dolphins select...

Clay Matthews, LB, USC

While Dolphins fans are clamoring for both a wide receiver and a cornerback in the first round, Bill Parcells is happy to have Clay Matthews fall to him.  Hakeem Nicks is a definite possibility, but I don’t think the Dolphins want to invest so heavily so soon after taking underachiever Ted Ginn Jr.  Additionally, while their receiving corps is nothing spectacular (although Greg Camarillo is a poor man’s Lance Moore!), the more glaring need is an upgrade on the defensive front – especially with the new divisional offensive threat in Terrell Owens, as well as the return of Tom Brady.  

The departure of Andre Goodman created a void across from Will Allen, and the signing of Eric Green helps that, but a cornerback is a definite possibility here.  Vontae Davis’s “character concerns” along with his reputation of poor work ethic unquestionably eliminate him from Parcells’s draft board, and Darius Butler (popular in other mocks) seems like a bit of a reach.  Furthermore, the Dolphins have been working out several late round CB prospects, including University of Miami cornerback Bruce Johnson, which reduces the first-round urgency of a defensive back.  

The other and maybe more important area for improvement is a pass rusher—Joey Porter has never played as well as he claims he is, and his age really began to show as the season progressed—and though there are rumors floating around there on the internets that Jason Taylor may be on his way back to Miami, the Dolphins really lack a dynamic pass rusher.  Matthews fills that needs, provides defensive flexibility, and possesses tremendous upside.

He’s overshadowed by the other two USC linebackers taken in the first round, but Matthews is a very solid player.  He’s an excellent pass rusher with great speed (he ran a 4.57 at his pro day), and all the scouts say he plays at an extremely high level (“he’s got a non-stop motor,” “flies around the field, sideline-to-sideline,” etc.).  More importantly, he’s exactly the kind of player Bill Parcells looks for—he’s an extremely hard worker, an overachiever (was a walk-on at USC), and he has great football genes (both his dad and grandfather were pros, and several other relatives were successful football players).  His intelligence on the field makes him very versatile, and the Dolphins would probably like to use him like USC did in various positions.  The knock on him is his lack of experience, but Parcells is likely to take a chance with a player he believes will be successful.  Matthews possesses both the physical tools and the IQ to do so.

The Baltimore Ravens are now on the clock...

Current Mock Draft