From the Seattle Times
The Seahawks went second-hand shopping again Monday.
This time they found a first-round talent at a sixth-round price, acquiring defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer from San Francisco. Seattle did not disclose what round the pick was, but multiple reports from the Bay Area stated it was a sixth-round choice.
Balmer, who played in high school at Weldon, was the 29th choice out of North Carolina in the 2008 draft, picked one spot after Seattle selected defensive end Lawrence Jackson. He had no sacks in two seasons in San Francisco, and never started a game, but now he gets a fresh start in a new defensive formation and he's only 23 years old.
"He's a big strong kid," coach Pete Carroll said. "We've worked to get big and strong up front. He's another guy that can play defensive end and [tackle] for us. He's got a great lower body, real physically capable of standing up against the big O-linemen we're going to play against in our division."
Balmer was absent from the 49ers for the past week. The first two days were excused by coach Mike Singletary. Starting Wednesday, he was declared the NFL equivalent of AWOL.
"Our understanding that Kentwan is ready to play football and in need of a fresh start," Seattle general manager John Schneider said in the team's announcement of the acquisition.
Seattle is taking a chance that a new team and change from the 3-4 defense the 49ers use will jump-start Balmer, who is 6 feet 5, 315 pounds.
Balmer was not at Seattle's practice Monday afternoon because he was scheduled to arrive in the evening. He had to undergo a physical examination before he was officially added to the roster, and then the Seahawks will make a roster move to clear space for him.
Balmer becomes the latest reclamation project in Seattle's Salvation Army approach to rebuilding the roster. No useful items will be refused.
The Seahawks signed former first-round picks Mike Williams and Reggie Williams, neither of whom played in the NFL last year. They traded for running backs like Leon Washington, who was coming off a leg injury, and LenDale White, who was no longer going to fit in Tennessee.
Not all those moves worked out. Reggie Williams never made it to training camp, and White was cut just 35 days after Seattle traded for him from Tennessee. But Mike Williams has been one of Seattle's most promising new acquisitions, and Kevin Vickerson, who was acquired from Tennessee along with White, looks like he can make an impact at defensive tackle.
Now, Seattle will give Balmer a chance to change the course of his career. The Seahawks had insight into Balmer from their own front office. Scot McCloughan served as 49ers general manager when San Francisco drafted him two years ago. McCloughan is now a senior personnel executive for the Seahawks.
Balmer is also a college teammate and close friend of E.J. Wilson, the rookie defensive end Seattle picked in the fourth round this season. Balmer and Wilson spoke Monday, and Wilson said he thinks having one of his best friends on the team will be a boost to both.
"It's going to be great," he said.
Balmer will get a chance at both the defensive end position where Red Bryant is currently the starter, and the defensive tackle spot where Brandon Mebane is the starter. It's at tackle where Balmer really distinguished himself in college.
"For a three-technique [tackle], he's very, very athletic," Wilson said.
So while Balmer's first two NFL seasons were a disappointment, he gets a fresh start on a blank slate as the Seahawks restock the shelves along both lines.
"What's happened is in the past as far as we're concerned," Carroll said. "We feel real good about him getting in here and helping us out right away."
