We made it. Finally the 2011 NFL Draft is set to start after months of speculation and waiting. Of course, with the Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled to pick at No. 31, there's still plenty of waiting left to be done this evening. But at long last, we'll finally go to bed this evening knowing who the latest addition to the Steelers family will be. Unless Kevin Colbert opts to trade out of the first round, that is.

Join fellow Steelers fans here to talk about the festivities from Radio City Music Hall in New York City as they unfold. I'll be around all evening joining the conversation in this thread, as well as posting a thing or two about what's unfolded in the earlier stages of the evening while we wait to see what happens with the Steelers later in the night.

Go Steelers!

Oh, and with 30 minutes still remaining, there's still time to enter the two draft contests we're having here on the site. The first, for $25 bucks, can be found here; the other, a chance to win maryrose's outstanding book From Black to Gold: The Pittsburgh Steelers, can be found here.

We're in the final home stretch before the 2011 NFL Draft finally commences. It's been a fun and busy last ten weeks or so since the Pittsburgh Steelers were denied a seventh Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLV. I can't thank all of you enough for your help in keeping the conversation lively and interesting this past few months. With no free agency to follow and an ongoing lockout that still has not sorted itself out, we've had to preoccupy our thoughts and time with obsessing over the draft. And though it's not my very favorite time of the year, this draft season has definitely been the most fun and interesting for me thanks to the help of the contributing authors and all of you in the fanposts.

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Many thanks to ICEICETHATGUY13 for his pick at No. 62 for the Bears. I like this pick quite a bit for Chicago, particularly after they drafted an OT, Derek Sherrod, in the first round of our mock. Next up: the one and only Pittsburgh Steelers, represented by the one and only maryrose. (We will post this tomorrow before the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft commences at 6 pm EST). - Michael B. -

Really, this is the worst case scenario for the Bears. DT isn't nearly as big of a positional need like the OL is. Ideally for the Bears, they'd hope a guy like Orlando Hudson or Stephen Wisniewski would fall to them. I'd imagine they'd pick up Marcus Cannon in an instant too. Guys like Orlando Franklin & James Carpenter could be picked up here for guard, but Franklin is a reach and Carpenter is more a of road grader type, wherein the Bears need a pass protector. But since nobody else is worthy of a pick here, I'd go BPA and get Nevis. They've got a need for a 3-tech DT, which is where Nevis should play. He's not overly athletic and he's not tall, but there's a reason why he commanded constant double teams. He's relentless, and plays well technique wise. He was constantly in defensive backfields during the season last year, and here, could be considered somewhat of a steal. If you want to see him at his best, watch him vs Florida or Alabama. Worst? Watch him vs Auburn.

BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Selections:

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I was a huge fan of Cameron Heyward last year, and really wanted him to declared for last year's draft so that the Pittsburgh Steelers could pick him in the middle of the first round. Heyward decided to stay his senior year at Ohio State, and the overall perception in his skill set slipped a bit as he didn't quite live up to expectations. His name also gets a little lost in one of the most talented defensive line classes ever. He still grades out to be a late-first, early second round pick and may just be the best fit for the Steelers in terms of scheme, character, and background.

Player Profile:

Ht: 6'5"

Wt: 294 lbs

Date of Birth: 5/6/1989

Projected Position: Right Defensive End

Background:

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Thanks to J Lee for promptly getting me the Chargers' pick at No. 61. Looks like we're in great shape to get to the entire second round before those selections are made on Friday night. Next up: the Chicago Bears, represented by ICEICETHATGUY13. - Michael B. -

For the San Diego Chargers, selecting Marcus Gilbert to fill a need at right tackle might be more ideal than re-signing OT Jeromey Clary, a free agent (which almost half of the team seems to be right now). Gilbert is versatile enough to play multiple position on the line, but really is more suited to play at right tackle than anywhere else. Gilbert even garnered an award from the RT position several years ago. Watching him during his career at Florida, I would say he is not as athletic and as aggressive as he'll need to be at the next level. At times, he struggles at getting to the second level to hit guys. But he has excelled for the most part with his pass protection. Phillip Rivers and the pass happy Chargers system would benefit from his skills at pass blocking.

In general, for two rounds where I have had the chance to pick the players for San Diego, the emphasis has been more about filling needs. If we were doing a third round, I would project another pass rusher, either another defensive end or outside linebacker like Sam Acho or Dontay Moch; an inside linebacker like Quan Sturdivant; or even a cornerback or safety, as the Chargers have multiple picks in the third round of this year's draft.

Video highlights and updated draft selections after the jump:

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I know many of you in Steeler Nation are like me -- huge fans of Marcus Cannon -- and were hoping to see him drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. That's not going to happen following Wednesday's reports that the TCU offensive guard/tackle has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As disappointing as that might be for fans hoping to see him get drafted, obviously nobody's thoughts are on anything but the well-being of the kid.

TCU offensive lineman Marcus Cannon has a treatable form of lymphoma that was discovered in the run-up to the NFL draft, sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

A source told ESPNDallas.com that Cannon was diagnosed with a benign growth in his groin area over four years ago, but physicals for the draft revealed that it had grown. A biopsy and further tests revealed that the 6-foot-6, 350-pound senior has non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cannon's representatives have released a medical report to all 32 NFL teams, sources told Schefter.

Cannon will begin chemotherapy Wednesday and will have three more treatments over the next three months and be finished by June 29. Because of his age and health, Cannon faces a success rate for beating the cancer of more than 90 percent.

Thankfully it sounds as though they caught it early, and that Cannon has a great shot at making a full recovery following chemotherapy treatments. Very scary stuff though for such a young man. And talk about a massive setback professionally after working hard his whole life to position himself to be drafted in the NFL.

So, what this does this mean for Cannon's draft stock with so little time for teams to reevaluate? Unfortunately for him and his family, the diagnosis almost assuredly bumps him out of the top two rounds, and perhaps all the way in to undrafted free agent status altogether.  Should he be considered such a risk though?

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The Steelers are rarely major players on Draft Day. Yes, they'll occasionally trade up like they did in 2003 and 2006 to acquire key players like Troy Polamalu and Santonio Holmes respectively. But for the most part, they quietly do their thing without much attention from the draft experts of the world.

However, there was a time, in 1989, when the Steelers actually had two first round picks. For a kid like me, who was obsessed with the draft in those days, it was a very welcome situation.

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Thanks to NYSteelersFan for taking care of this pick while I was out. Next up: The San Diego Chargers, represented by J Lee. - Michael B. -

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The Patriots continue their (in my humble opinion) great draft, and select corner Ras I Dowling from the University of Virginia 60th overall. Last year's first round pick, Devin McCourty, absolutely dazzled in his first year, collecting 7 interceptions, 17 deflected passes, and forcing two fumbles. Now they look to bolster their cornerback depth, as well as find a potential #2 to play opposite McCourty for years to come.

Ras I's coverage abilities combined with his size and experience make him a great pick for the Patriots. He can come in and play the slot behind Bodden and McCourty, and assuming he shows the abilities he showed for his first few years at Virginia, he may be able to allow the Patriots to get out from under Bodden's contract in time if the Pats choose to (something they have done in the past with corners). If the draft were to play out like this, the Patriots will debate this corner pick between Johnny Patrick and Doowling, and in my opinion will choose Dowling's potential for injury concerns over Patrick's potenial for off the field problems. Though neither is a huge concern to me, Patrick's worry me only a bit more given the circumstances. Plus, in terms of measurables, Dowling beats out Patrick in almost all categories as well.

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