Grading Chargers' fourth-round selection of edge rusher Kyle Kennard
The Los Angeles Chargers secured a significant addition to their defensive lineup by selecting Kyle Kennard, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, with the 125th pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. This move was necessitated by the release of veteran Joey Bosa to create cap space, even after re-signing Khalil Mack. Kennard, known for his exceptional speed, burst off the line, and effective pass-rushing techniques, is expected to be a valuable contributor alongside top edge rushers Mack, Tuli Tuipolotu, and Bud Dupree. Despite some concerns about his strength and ability to hold ground against offensive linemen, his impressive college record of 17.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss over two seasons promises a significant impact at the professional level. The Chargers' draft strategy has been praised for finding value, with Kennard's selection highlighted as potentially one of the best value picks of the draft, earning an A grade for their choice.
The Chargers released veteran Joey Bosa to create cap space and re-signed Khalil Mack, necessitating additional support at the defensive end, which they addressed by selecting Kyle Kennard in the fourth round.
Kyle Kennard was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, known for his speed and burst off the line, with a successful college record of 11.5 sacks in a single season, making him a promising addition to the Chargers' defensive lineup.
Kennard joins a strong group of edge rushers including Mack, Tuli Tuipolotu, and Bud Dupree, and is expected to be a day-one contributor by 2025 under the defense led by Jesse Minter.
While Kennard shows potential with his quickness and ability to take efficient paths to the quarterback, there are concerns about his strength against offensive linemen and consistency in using his hands effectively in pass-rushing.
Despite some negatives, his overall performance and potential have been deemed highly valuable, with the Chargers' draft strategy earning praise for finding such a talented player in the fourth round.
The Chargers' draft has been solid overall, with Kennard potentially being the cornerstone of their selections, earning high marks for addressing key defensive needs effectively.
Travis Wakeman, an experienced NFL reporter, has covered the Chargers' strategic moves and draft selections, highlighting the significance of Kennard's addition to the team's future prospects.
The Los Angeles Chargers were able to re-sign Khalil Mack on the first day of free agency this offseason but in order to create a massive amount of cap space, the team chose to release long-time veteran Joey Bosa. As a result, more help was needed at the defensive end.
If you're in the fourth round of the draft, it's difficult to do better than to find the SEC Defensive Player of the Year when looking to fill that position. But that is what the Chargers did with pick No. 125, selecting Kyle Kennard out of South Carolina.
Mack, Tuli Tuipolotu and Bud Dupree are the team's top three options at the edge rushing position, and Kennard is a terrific addition to that group. In the defense of Jesse Minter, he should be a day one contributor in 2025.
The Chargers have done a tremendous job finding value in this draft, but the selection of Kennard is among the best value picks made in this entire draft. He led the SEC with 11.5 sacks last season and that will translate to the professional ranks.
Here is what the Scouting Department over at Bleacher Report had to say about him.
Positives
— Good burst off the line of scrimmage to win with speed around the edge paired with a solid rip move as a pass-rusher.
— Quick and twitchy to develop an inside stick move as a counter if he gets his use of hands down.
— Takes good angles and has natural bend with flexible hips/lower half to corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback.
— As a run defender, he's quick to get his hands up and has long arms to get extension on blocks with added strength.
— Good production with 17.5 sacks and 27 TFLs over the last two seasons combined.
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NEGATIVES
— Lacks strength to hold his ground against offensive linemen as a run defender and will struggle to set the edge at the next level.
— Likes to work around blocks, causing him to leave his gap.
— Sub-par strength also hurts his ability to turn speed to power as a pass-rusher and will lead to him getting washed inside if offensive tackles can get their hands on him.
— Inaccurate with his hands/initial chops as a pass-rusher, often missing and making it difficult to 'defeat the hands and defeat the man'.
The Chargers have had a solid draft so far, but Kennard could end up being the cornerstone of the entire class.
Grade: A
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