Draft Day 1 Recap

The 49ers went for might instead of flight on the first day of the NFL draft, opting for linemen on both sides of the ball instead of a wide receiver to run down the field and catch it. With their first pick in the draft, 29th overall, the 49ers tabbed Kentwan Balmer, a versatile 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman from North Carolina who can play either nose tackle or end. The club seems more inclined to play Balmer at nose tackle but he could also end up replacing the retired Bryant Young at left end.

It was an ecstatic Balmer who spoke to reporters Saturday in a conference call as he mentioned how his father, Charles Balmer, was an avid 49ers fan in the 1990s. No mention if dad is still as enthused now that the team is struggling.Ten picks later, at the eighth spot in the second round, San Francisco went for something of a surprise in guard Chilo Rachal of USC, who was picked higher than most people expected, including the player himself.Rachal, 6-4 and 319 pounds, is expected to compete for a job and could end up taking over for Larry Allen at left guard.Balmer's brawny presence on the defensive line, especially at nose tackle, will occupy blockers and allow Pro Bowl inside linebacker Patrick Willis, that tackling machine, to get to the ballcarrier. Rachal beefs up an offensive line that was responsible for 55 sacks in 2007, including the one that led to quarterback Alex Smith's shoulder injury and a ruined season.

The 49ers go into the second day of the draft with four picks, one each in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds. With his first two picks, Nolan also considered Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling and Oklahoma inside linebacker Curtis Lofton.In going for linemen on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Nolan passed up an opportunity to select one of several wide receivers available at 29 and 39, in particular DeSean Jackson of Cal, Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma, James Hardy of Indiana and Limas Sweed of Texas.

The coach said it's possible the 49ers will pick a wide receiver with one of today's picks but the fact he did not choose one on Saturday indicates he didn't believe any wideout deserving of late-first- or early-second-round status.

Day 2 Recap .... and opinion of picks on Sunday Night.
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