Kenneth Grant: Force of Nature

I was putting off evaluating Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant because I thought I would just end up being disappointed.

Wow, was I wrong.

Not only am I not disappointed, but Grant has become one of my favorite prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft after evaluating every snap he played in 2023. I’m not a huge fan of defensive tackles in the first round, but yeah…

Grant is 340 pounds of athleticism, effort, and brute power.

Impressive.

That’s the one word I would use to describe him if I was sitting in a scouting meeting on a team and I was called on to talk about him.

It was fun to evaluate his 2023 film.

Dirty pocket

In the NFL, it’s all about getting pressure on the quarterback, and Grant is not just another pretty face on the interior of the defensive line.

Grant can collapse the pocket.

• 23 pressures
• 3.5 sacks

What he lacks in the ability to make quick adjustments, he makes up for by playing the role of a boulder moving toward the opposing quarterback. Getting this kind of push from the interior is worth its weight in gold, no pun intended. I want to stress, it’s not on every snap, but it happens often enough. This is why Grant drew a fair number of double-teams pass rushing (I charted 29x in 14 games).

The scary part is that he looks like he is still on the raw side when using his pass-rushing moves. On film, he used them ‘sparingly. ‘

Run defense

Grant is a complete 3-down defensive tackle who really makes a difference on run defense. In the defensive rotation at Michigan in 2023:

• 29 tackles
• 16 solo

Grant is practically immovable inside. He holds his ground well. This 2025 NFL Draft prospect looks like a man amongst boys on his college tape and he plays the run like he means it.

He’s a real handful with how he is built ⎯solid and dense muscle from head to toe.

Athleticism and playmaking ability

The thing that tips the scales and solidifies Grant’s spot on my 2025 NFL Draft Board (at this point based on his 2023 tape) is his insane athleticism for his size, which translates into making plays on defense.

• 5 passes defended
• 1 interception
• 5 tackles for loss

Grant makes a difference and the first round is all about identifying and acquiring difference-makers.

Plays like football is important to him

When I was with the Jets, Bill Parcells had ‘Six critical factors of scouting,’ and one of those was, ‘Is football important to him?’

In other words, does he play like he loves the game ⎯does it show up on tape?

With Grant, the answer is a resounding, “YES.” Time after time Grant visibly got fired up during the games and showed emotion.

Team chemistry is one of the most overlooked and most important things when it comes to team building. Every player who is added to the locker room is like an ingredient added to a recipe. A cup of salt instead of sugar can make desert taste a lot different.

Drafting guys who show that they care moves the meter.

#78 Kenneth Grant 6-foot-3, 339 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Fall Grade: First Round (I would select him)

Projected by 58.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 23, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: UNLV, Bowling Green, Rutgers, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Penn State, Maryland, Iowa, Alabama, and Washington (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Stout thick frame with playmaking ability both in passing and run situations. High effort level. Tough and physical. No drop-off in play regardless of the level of competition. Equally distributed brute power. Bully ball. Active. Good use of hands at the point of attack. Flashes swim, rip, and spin moves rushing the passer. Ran a fair number of “X” stunts, but labored to make quick changes of direction. Can take over and overwhelm offensive guards and the center at times with tremendous power. He was inconsistent shedding blocks against the run. Willing to chase. Either in on the stop or around the pile most of the time. High ceiling prospect.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Sack and pressure production?

2. Frequency using pass rush moves?

3. Consistent shedding run blocks?

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, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.