Kris Jenkins Moves the Meter

An NFL team can win with Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins based on what he put on his 2022 game film.

I say defensive lineman because the Wolverines moved Jenkins to every position along the defensive line. Primarily, he lined up at defensive tackle.

Jenkins was a tenacious force to be reckoned with. He played like football was important to him.

I love prospects like Jenkins – – guys with a high motor who bring it play after play.

It looks like other draft platforms like him enough to give him a high grade too. CBS, Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report, Fansided, Fox Sports, Draftwire, Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Network, NBC Sports and The Athletic have all put a first-round grade on this Michigan defender.

I can’t go that high. As much as I like him, I can’t go that high.

Lack of sack production

In today’s pass-happy NFL, it’s all about getting pressure and sacks for defensive linemen, and those who show they can do a lot of both, end up as first-round prospects. While Jenkins is a relentless pass rusher who draws a good deal of double-teams because he’s so active, he’s often not closing the deal.

To date in 23 games in 2022 and 2023, Jenkins has 3.5 sacks total. He had two sacks last season and he has 1.5 sacks this season.

Those are not first-round numbers.

I’m not trying to take anything away from Jenkins’ value, because I like his disruptiveness, he just lacks the pure explosiveness, strength, burst, and speed it takes to produce a lot of sacks. Jenkins has everything else a team would look for.

He produced 40 pressures in 2022.

Big time run defender

Jenkins brings more to the party as a run defender than a pass rusher. Some guys are just in it for the thrill of the kill getting to the quarterback, that’s not Jenkins. This Michigan defensive tackle lives to stop the run.

In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, his 31 run stops in 2022 were tied for the most among FBS defensive tackles.

Jenkins is a street-fighter who wants to get to the ball carrier. He fights through blocks and double teams. It was flat-out impressive watching Jenkins defend the run. He’s extremely active.

Run defense is where it shows how important the game of football is to Jenkins.

Guarding against over-grading

In the social media world it’s called “hating,” but I call it evaluating. It’s also the best thing that can be done for a prospect, to properly grade him.

Nobody benefits from over-grading, least of all the prospect. Grading creates expectations and for better or for worse, so goes the player’s career. To put a first-round grade on Jenkins is to create this expectation he’s coming in there as a world-beater.

That’s not fair to him, because while he’s a great addition to a team, his lack of playing strength and explosiveness limits him from being dominant.

#94 Kris Jenkins 6-foot-3, 305 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 20.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 17, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): Purdue, Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Maryland, and UCONN (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 54 tackles (29 solo) and 2 sacks

Note: His dad Kris Jenkins Sr. was a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman (2001-2010) and his uncle Cullen Jenkins played defensive tackle for 13 years in the NFL.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tenacious high motor complete three-down prospect. Doesn’t take plays off. Gap-shooter pass rusher. Capable of delivering initial push, but if he can’t get into a gap, he tends to bog down. Keeps fighting and sometimes generates pressure based on sheer will. More quick than fast. Flashed swim and spin moves. Defenses need to be aware of where he is lining up. Brings it. Fights to the ball carrier against the run. Inconsistent disengaging. Wants it. Gets visibly fired up. Shows emotion.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Sack production total?

2. Number of pressures?

3. Pass rush moves shown?

4. Disengaging from run blocks consistently?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.