First I wanna make it clear that I'm not saying anything negative about PT.
I just wanna bring up some recent history with some of our guys. It seems in the last few years we always have that one player at the end of the year that seems like hes finally put it together and is ready to break out. Aaron Brooks, Boo Williams, Zach Hilton, Devery Henderson, but for some reason or another, come the follow up season, they fall flat of what we expected. Im sure theres plenty of other guys that Im skipping over, those are just the ones off the top of my head. Sure, PT showed some flashes of what he is capable of, but personally Im not sold on our RB corp at all.

I know we need defense first, we all know that. Part of me however, is starting to think that maybe Mendenhall is the wisest choice for us at #10. Our offense soared in 06 due to the fact we could throw it and pound it and Deuce (as much as I love the guy) is no longer the long term solution. We found out last year what the lack of a ground game does and in the end it forced more turnovers from Brees. I really think if you take way some of his INTs we wouldve made the playoffs. Maybe the biggest help we can add to our defense is by getting that ground game back, keeping our D off the field and eating up the clock.

.. and exactly what makes you think Mendenhall is going to do any better than PT or Stecker or Bush?

Stecker isnt here for the long term benefit. Bush worked better in 06 splitting carries and catching passes, with Deuce defenses had to account for both.
As I said before, nothing against PT, but I'm not 100% sold on him at the moment.
IMO, Mendenhall, might be the safest pick at #10. Nothing is for sure, but taking DRC or Rivers at #10 is very questionable at the moment.