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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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