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The Kansas City Chiefs attempted to elevate their defensive line by drafting explosive pass rushers several times in recent years. It’s time for general manager Brett Veach to take another bite of the apple and target a new sack artist in this 2025 NFL draft’s deep edge rusher class.
South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Kyle Kennard won the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024 after amassing 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Kennard is 6’4’’, 254 lbs. with 34’’ arms. He projects as an early-career designated pass rusher who could transition into a full-time role once he expands his pass rush arsenal.
Kennard primarily wins with his speed and explosiveness. His pass rush plan includes twitchy chops, rips, spins and two-handed swipes. Kennard attacks the B-gap with a straight speed rush or uses euro steps to soften the lineman’s inside shoulder. He pushes vertically to widen the B-gap before breaking inside or uses his long arms to pry open inside rush lanes.
Kennard uses chop and swipe counters with his long-arm to keep his pass rush alive after his bull rush fades. He displayed some flashes of speed to power while working against LSU Tigers star left tackle Will Campbell. Kennard must improve his power profile to maximize his length and diversify his rush plan.
Kennard plays an undisciplined style of football that resulted in 18 penalties over the past three seasons. Hip stiffness prevents him from providing a consistent threat off the edge. He struggles to bend around the offensive tackle’s outside shoulder and often finds himself driven out of plays. Kennard needs to learn advanced rush moves to become more than just a speed rusher.
Kennard doesn’t offer much value in run defense. He fails to hold the point of attack and struggles to break the offensive lineman’s clamp. Kennard doesn’t separate from blocks in a timely fashion and needs to improve his hand placement to stack blocks and keep linemen out of his frame.
Kennard earned several significant SEC and national awards after his final season with the Gamecocks, but he’s only a borderline top 15 edge rusher in the 2025 NFL draft. His lack of power and reliance on speed limits his ceiling as a prospect. If the Chiefs trade back, they could select him in the third round or the top of the fourth round.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2025 NFL draft scouting report: South Carolina DE Kyle Kennard
Continue reading...
South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Kyle Kennard won the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024 after amassing 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Kennard is 6’4’’, 254 lbs. with 34’’ arms. He projects as an early-career designated pass rusher who could transition into a full-time role once he expands his pass rush arsenal.
Kennard primarily wins with his speed and explosiveness. His pass rush plan includes twitchy chops, rips, spins and two-handed swipes. Kennard attacks the B-gap with a straight speed rush or uses euro steps to soften the lineman’s inside shoulder. He pushes vertically to widen the B-gap before breaking inside or uses his long arms to pry open inside rush lanes.
Kennard uses chop and swipe counters with his long-arm to keep his pass rush alive after his bull rush fades. He displayed some flashes of speed to power while working against LSU Tigers star left tackle Will Campbell. Kennard must improve his power profile to maximize his length and diversify his rush plan.
Kennard plays an undisciplined style of football that resulted in 18 penalties over the past three seasons. Hip stiffness prevents him from providing a consistent threat off the edge. He struggles to bend around the offensive tackle’s outside shoulder and often finds himself driven out of plays. Kennard needs to learn advanced rush moves to become more than just a speed rusher.
Kennard doesn’t offer much value in run defense. He fails to hold the point of attack and struggles to break the offensive lineman’s clamp. Kennard doesn’t separate from blocks in a timely fashion and needs to improve his hand placement to stack blocks and keep linemen out of his frame.
Kennard earned several significant SEC and national awards after his final season with the Gamecocks, but he’s only a borderline top 15 edge rusher in the 2025 NFL draft. His lack of power and reliance on speed limits his ceiling as a prospect. If the Chiefs trade back, they could select him in the third round or the top of the fourth round.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2025 NFL draft scouting report: South Carolina DE Kyle Kennard
Continue reading...
