And with the 39th pick in the 2008 Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select:

North Carolina DT Kentwan Balmer

Draft Profile

thatswhatshesaid with the pick:

Coming into the Draft, the Bengals (again) are almost exclusively focused on the defensive side of the ball. And after making progress in the linebacker corps in the first round, by selecting Keith Rivers, they now turn their attention to the defensive line. Defensive tackle is, arguably, their biggest need in this Draft, and is almost certainly larger than their LB need. While they would have made a gargantuan reach in the first round to fill the need at DT, after both Sedrick Ellis (who they really really want in the first round) and Glenn Dorsey were taken, Balmer would be tremendous value this in the second round and fill a need, making it an obvious pick for the Bengals.

Most Mock Draft websites list Balmer as a first round talent, and he would be a major steal and, likely, a plug-in into the starting lineup. Neither Domata Peko or John Thronton are exactly locks to be in the starting lineup, and Balmer has both eclipsed in terms of talent.

1. Miami Dolphins - QB Matt Ryan
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland Raiders - DE Chris Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - DL Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin
12. Denver Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall
15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Philip Merling
18. Houston Texans - OG Branden Albert
19. Philadelphia Eagles - FS Kenny Phillips
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR/RS DeSean Jackson
21. Washington Redskins - WR Limas Sweed
22. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OL Gosder Cherilus
24. Tennessee Titans - WR Devin Thomas
25. Seattle Seahawks - WR Malcolm Kelly
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Lawrence Jackson
27. San Diego Chargers - RB Jonathan Stewart
28. Dallas Cowboys - CB Aqib Talib
29. San Francisco 49ers - WR Mario Manningham
30. Green Bay Packers - CB Brandon Flowers
31. New York Giants - LB Jerod Mayo

32. Miami Dolphins - OT Carl Nicks
33. St. Louis Rams - CB Antoine Cason
34. Atlanta Falcons - QB Brian Brohm
35. Kansas City Chiefs - WR Jordy Nelson
36. New York Jets - DE Quentin Groves
37. Atlanta Falcons - OT Sam Baker
38. Baltimore Ravens - CB Justin King
39. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Kentwan Balmer

On the clock: New Orleans Saints (skibum 1537)

Full list of AP mock draft participants