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1st Rd #29 – Kentwan Balmer, DL North Carolina
I was shocked when I saw that the 49ers drafted him, not because I thought that they wouldn’t, but because no one else did first!  I wasn’t surprised that they picked him up, however, if you recall what I said in my post on the 49ers’ draft needs: “they really don’t need a fast Defensive End in this scheme. The kind of player they’d benefit most from here is Kentwan Balmer. Defensive line is probably not a priority going in for Scot McCloughan, but if a big beefy tackle is there, I could easily see them springing for him. In that scenario, it makes putting Sopoaga in Young’s spot a much more permanent move.”

He was easily in the top five of defensive linemen in the entire draft, and when he fell to the 49ers he was absolutely the best player on the board.  None of the positions we would have said were need picks had any standout players available.  There is a reason no one picked a wide receiver in the first round.  None of the Outside pass-rushers were game changers in college.  There were no All-American stalwarts out there like Patrick Willis.  Kentwan Balmer is big, strong, quick, versatile, has a great attitude, has the love for the Red and Gold, and immediately comes in as a serious contender to start at the Nose Tackle or End.

2nd Rd #39 – Chilo Rachal, OG Southern California
I’ll admit I knew nothing about Chilo Rachal when I saw his name, but the fact that he’s a Trojan made me happy.  He’s a smash mouth guard from a program that gave up few sacks, if any.  He’s smart, well-spoken, and is an absolute bruiser on the field.  For a team that thrives on locker room leadership from the biggest men in there, this is a great pick.  Had Sam Baker not gone so early, I think maybe he could have been the pick here.

3rd Rd #75 – Reggie Smith, CB Oklahoma
Reggie Smith is quite nearly a clone of Nate Clements.  He has great size for a corner, with the strength to jam receivers at the line.  One thing I noticed watching clips of him, and the thing that reminded me of Clements, is his open-field tackling ability.  He is very instinctive about his body position when he goes in to make the hit.  If Walt Harris needs spelling, I think Smith may be more capable on the outside than even Shawntae Spencer.  Regardless, he will raise the level of competition in the defensive backfield, and I project him as a starter at the nickel spot eventually in 2008.  This guy is also extremely well-spoken and sounds like a pro.

4th Rd #107 – Cody Wallace, C Texas A&M
I know virtually nothing about Cody Wallace.  I only know what the scouting reports say, and they are very positive.  I get the sense he is very intelligent–he has to be as a center–and that he has good technique.  I also called this a little in my draft needs post, when I said that I’d like to see the 49ers get a center because we still don’t really know how much of the problem in the middle of the line was due to Heitmann’s leg injury.  It could have been all on Smiley, but I doubt it.  I thought taking a center was a good insurance policy.

6th Rd #174 – Josh Morgan, WR Virginia Tech
I won’t bother going into the off-the-field “issues.”  I know that he’s talented and played on a team with a solid passing game.  He is a decent player who has a chance to make the team if he works hard.  He’s rather softspoken, and resembles Isaac Bruce in his demeanor.  If he follows in the footsteps of the sure-fire hall of famer he ought to do well.  The Niners felt like they could take a flier in this round, based on previous experience with first-day wide receiver selections.

7th Rd #214 – Larry Grant, OLB Ohio State
Grant had experience on a great college program, in a conference known for producing hard-nosed defensive players.  People project him as a third-string linebacker and special-teams guy, and Special Teams Coordinator Al Everest liked the kid so much, he kept trying to sell Nolan on the pick after they made it!

Truth be told, though, the scouting report on Grant praises his leverage, his effort, and his timing and quickness on blitzes.  He could stand to bulk up a little and work on his technique, but I believe he could challenge for a lot of time rushing the passer in certain situations.  He grew up in the Sacramento area as a 49ers fan.  I love it when the team drafts guys with a love for the red and gold, because it means they’re more likely to care about team success, and be more inclined to stay.  This bodes well for long-term success of this team.

Overall Impression
I like the draft considering the quality of players in it.  I don’t really think they could have done anything much better.  There really was no consensus pass-rushing stud in this draft, and I think the next couple of seasons will bear that out.  I believe Parys Haralson is going to be the starter opposite Manny Lawson, and everything we hear suggests the team is very happy with his improvement.  We’ll see how that plays out.

Offensively, Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson both are 1,000 yard-caliber players.  With Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, and an emerging Jason Hill, they didn’t need to draft a wide receiver, especially since there were no absolute burners out there.  Bruce had nearly 1,000 yards last season in a horrible year for the team.  He is still quick and able to get open.  Bryant Johnson was a very capable third option behind Boldin and Fitzgerald, and I believe we’re going to see a breakout for him here.