No. 37

Pick by The Falcoholic Kentwan Balmer Defensive Tackle North Carolina

With the #37 pick overall - their third pick thus far in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft - the Atlanta Falcons have selected North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer.  Balmer is the third potential first-round pick that the Falcons have added in this mock draft (OT Jake Long, QB Joe Flacco), and Dave the Falconer of The Falcoholic joins us yet again to express his glee at his first three selections:

  Kentwan Balmer isn't necessarily the most popular pick for this spot. On paper, he's a pretty big dude who excelled in his senior year, and he fills another critical need for the Falcons at defensive tackle.  From everything I've seen of Balmer, he's got a terrific motor and really knows how to play the run effectively. Though the team currently has tremendous depth at defensive tackle, we don't have a single true standout at the position.  Balmer ought to fix that.

Still, I realize both second rounds picks thus far have gambled on guys who really came on strong in their senior years. This team needs guys who have terrific potential, and I truly believe both Flacco and Balmer can be game changers on their respective sides of the ball. After the hellish ordeal I like to call "last season", the Falcons must get better at their weakest positions quickly to have any shot at relevance in the next few years. With Long, Balmer and Flacco, we've added impact players on both lines and drafted a possible franchise quarterback.

Not a bad start, I'd say.
 
Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

This is the most unlikely scenario for April 26th, by far. Balmer is considered by most a top 15 pick. At New Era, we don't feel that way. Balmer has not played with fire or motivation until his senior year. He reminds me too much of Ryan Sims, another UNC player with great potential and little production. Balmer looks like the ideal tackle for Atlanta, as he can even shift out and play end in the 3-4. Atlanta is putting together a great draft early on, addressing needs at OT, QB and now DT by taking the best lineman left.

Grade: B+  ::  Kentwan Balmer Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1.  LB Jerod Mayo, 2.  LB Shawn Crable, 3.  RB Jamaal Charles, 4.  WR Earl Bennett, 5.  TE Fred Davis

We've had some interesting picks of late!  That's sure to continue with the Baltimore Ravens, represented by Baltimore Beatdown, now on the clock.