San Francisco 49ers: 20 worst NFL Draft picks in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
No. 14: Defensive Tackle Kentwan Balmer
Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (29th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
San Francisco’s 2008 selection of defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer was horrific. It’s strange to consider he remained with the team for two seasons despite being taken 29th overall in 2008.
Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area wrote:
"First-round draft pick Kentwan Balmer, chosen by then-general manager Scot McCloughan at No. 29 overall, was a disaster. He managed to slide down the depth chart a little further every year. Balmer did not demonstrate the talent nor the mindset to be a competent player. He ended up quitting the team after a couple weeks of training camp in 2010. He forced a trade to the Seattle Seahawks, where he was not much better."
Yeah, Balmer quit in advance of the 2010 season. And his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks didn’t go much better. After a one-year stint with the Seahawks, Balmer rounded out his pro career with a less-than-productive two-year term with the Washington Redskins.
Balmer was more of an embarrassment to the 49ers organization than anything else.
San Francisco got a total of 11 tackles out of its former first-round investment.