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Kenneth Grant, the behemoth defensive tackle from Michigan, is the name that pops up most frequently when you peruse various mock drafts regarding the Buffalo Bills pick at No. 30 in the first round.
I certainly can’t argue with the logic because everything about Grant screams Buffalo. At 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, he is exactly the type of player the Bills need in the soft and undersized middle of their defensive line, but it just feels like it would be an upset if Grant were still sitting there in the late hours of Thursday night, April 24, when it’s time for the Bills to finally go on the clock.
The top DT in this draft - Grant’s Michigan teammate Mason Graham - will be long gone, and then the next tier includes Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams, and Mississippi’s Walter Nolen, all of whom could be selected anywhere starting in the late teens.
Now, despite what you might hear, no one truly knows what the Bills think about Grant or any other player. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott are never going to comment publicly about anyone before the draft and the reasons are pretty obvious.
For all we know, they might covet Grant the way many mock drafters do and have every intention of doing whatever they can - meaning trading up if need be - to procure his services. Or, maybe not. Perhaps they don’t think he’s a great fit for their scheme, or there’s something in his character or work habits or something else that they don’t like that will keep them away.
Grant - who arrived at Michigan weighing 360 pounds and remade his body through hard work - confirmed at the combine that he met with the Bills and he said, “It was pretty cool, real smooth. All the meetings are … some are serious, some are fun.”
Buffalo had representatives at Michigan’s Pro Day on March 21, but it has not been confirmed whether Grant has come to One Bills Drive for one of the allotted Top 30 visits where teams can bring in prospects to privately workout and interview, though that could still happen.
The only drill Grant did at the combine was the bench press and he managed 22 reps at 225 pounds. At his pro day, he improved to 27 reps (which would have ranked fifth at the combine), and also ran 5.07 in the 40-yard dash, vertical jumped 31 inches and broad jumped 8 feet, 9.5 inches.
Beyond the measurables, Grant’s on-field performance is impressive as his combination of size and quickness are what NFL teams covet at one-technique tackle.
“I’m a three-down player for sure,” he said at the combine. “I can rush the passer with my strength and a little bit of finesse in there. Most guys think I’m just a run stopper, but I’m super athletic and can rush the passer.”
Now, to be clear, every player at the combine walks in with hubris because it’s part of the deal. Their agents impress upon them the importance of exuding confidence in interviews, both with teams and with the media, so Grant patting himself on the back is commonplace.
However, Grant definitely has the resume to back up the talk. In his last two seasons at Michigan - one of which was 2023 when he helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship - Pro Football Focus charted him playing 950 total defensive snaps across 27 games and he totaled 61 tackles, 12 for lost yardage including 6.5 sacks, and he batted down 11 passes.
“I think I’m more athletic than some of these guys,” Grant said, comparing himself to the other DTs at the combine. “Pretty good athletes in this class. I’m intelligent, I know a lot of football.
➤ Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Grant is a broad-bodied nose tackle whose tape can run hot and cold depending on the game and the types of blocks he’s facing. He struggles to anchor when hit with down blocks due to his narrow base and tall pads, but he uses his power and length to beat single blocks and split double teams when he finds the crease. He had some sack production in college, and we could see him improve in that area once he learns to create more rush space with his hands. Grant’s game will finally come together in full when he’s able to take his impressive physical attributes and impose his will on opponents.”
➤ Pro Football Network: “Kenneth Grant is one of the most explosive defensive tackle prospects over 330 pounds to enter the NFL Draft. He fits into a rare player category with a high-level blend of size, speed, and power. His lower body strength is enough to demand significant attention from opposing offensive lines on a snap-to-snap basis. His physical profile is ideal for eating blockers to free up his linemates and the linebackers navigating traffic behind him. What makes Grant especially dangerous is that he also has the awareness and hand usage to shed blockers against the run.”
➤ Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: “Grant is a massive defensive tackle with intriguing quickness and power. He’s very much a work in progress as a pass rusher. He flashes quick/violent hands to club/swim for wins, but far too often doesn’t have a plan and stalls out. He hasn’t learned to harness his strength to bull rush and consistently collapse the pocket. That should be at the top of his agenda this coming season. He’s a very dominant run defender. He easily holds the point of attack, despite playing with a high pad level. I love his effort and awareness to chase down screens. Overall, there is some assembly required, but his physical tools are very loud and worth the investment.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Kenneth Grant may be right fit for Buffalo Bills' first-round pick
Continue reading...
I certainly can’t argue with the logic because everything about Grant screams Buffalo. At 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, he is exactly the type of player the Bills need in the soft and undersized middle of their defensive line, but it just feels like it would be an upset if Grant were still sitting there in the late hours of Thursday night, April 24, when it’s time for the Bills to finally go on the clock.
The top DT in this draft - Grant’s Michigan teammate Mason Graham - will be long gone, and then the next tier includes Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams, and Mississippi’s Walter Nolen, all of whom could be selected anywhere starting in the late teens.
Now, despite what you might hear, no one truly knows what the Bills think about Grant or any other player. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott are never going to comment publicly about anyone before the draft and the reasons are pretty obvious.
For all we know, they might covet Grant the way many mock drafters do and have every intention of doing whatever they can - meaning trading up if need be - to procure his services. Or, maybe not. Perhaps they don’t think he’s a great fit for their scheme, or there’s something in his character or work habits or something else that they don’t like that will keep them away.
How Kenneth Grant performed at NFL combine and Michigan Pro Day
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Grant - who arrived at Michigan weighing 360 pounds and remade his body through hard work - confirmed at the combine that he met with the Bills and he said, “It was pretty cool, real smooth. All the meetings are … some are serious, some are fun.”
Buffalo had representatives at Michigan’s Pro Day on March 21, but it has not been confirmed whether Grant has come to One Bills Drive for one of the allotted Top 30 visits where teams can bring in prospects to privately workout and interview, though that could still happen.
The only drill Grant did at the combine was the bench press and he managed 22 reps at 225 pounds. At his pro day, he improved to 27 reps (which would have ranked fifth at the combine), and also ran 5.07 in the 40-yard dash, vertical jumped 31 inches and broad jumped 8 feet, 9.5 inches.
Beyond the measurables, Grant’s on-field performance is impressive as his combination of size and quickness are what NFL teams covet at one-technique tackle.
“I’m a three-down player for sure,” he said at the combine. “I can rush the passer with my strength and a little bit of finesse in there. Most guys think I’m just a run stopper, but I’m super athletic and can rush the passer.”
Now, to be clear, every player at the combine walks in with hubris because it’s part of the deal. Their agents impress upon them the importance of exuding confidence in interviews, both with teams and with the media, so Grant patting himself on the back is commonplace.
However, Grant definitely has the resume to back up the talk. In his last two seasons at Michigan - one of which was 2023 when he helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship - Pro Football Focus charted him playing 950 total defensive snaps across 27 games and he totaled 61 tackles, 12 for lost yardage including 6.5 sacks, and he batted down 11 passes.
“I think I’m more athletic than some of these guys,” Grant said, comparing himself to the other DTs at the combine. “Pretty good athletes in this class. I’m intelligent, I know a lot of football.
What NFL draft analysts say about Kenneth Grant
➤ Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Grant is a broad-bodied nose tackle whose tape can run hot and cold depending on the game and the types of blocks he’s facing. He struggles to anchor when hit with down blocks due to his narrow base and tall pads, but he uses his power and length to beat single blocks and split double teams when he finds the crease. He had some sack production in college, and we could see him improve in that area once he learns to create more rush space with his hands. Grant’s game will finally come together in full when he’s able to take his impressive physical attributes and impose his will on opponents.”
➤ Pro Football Network: “Kenneth Grant is one of the most explosive defensive tackle prospects over 330 pounds to enter the NFL Draft. He fits into a rare player category with a high-level blend of size, speed, and power. His lower body strength is enough to demand significant attention from opposing offensive lines on a snap-to-snap basis. His physical profile is ideal for eating blockers to free up his linemates and the linebackers navigating traffic behind him. What makes Grant especially dangerous is that he also has the awareness and hand usage to shed blockers against the run.”
➤ Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: “Grant is a massive defensive tackle with intriguing quickness and power. He’s very much a work in progress as a pass rusher. He flashes quick/violent hands to club/swim for wins, but far too often doesn’t have a plan and stalls out. He hasn’t learned to harness his strength to bull rush and consistently collapse the pocket. That should be at the top of his agenda this coming season. He’s a very dominant run defender. He easily holds the point of attack, despite playing with a high pad level. I love his effort and awareness to chase down screens. Overall, there is some assembly required, but his physical tools are very loud and worth the investment.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Kenneth Grant may be right fit for Buffalo Bills' first-round pick
Continue reading...
