Michigan's Kenneth Grant is the NFL draft's hidden monster

Yesterday, I wrote about Michigan football Defensive Tackle Mason Graham, giving my take on his strengths, weaknesses, and where I think he'll end up. Well ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, I'll be talking about the other star on the Michigan interior defensive line, Kenneth Grant. While also a standout with the Wolverines, Grant dominated the college level for different reasons. So here is my Kenneth Grant NFL Draft Scouting Report

Kenneth Grant NFL Draft Scouting Report

Coming out of Merrillville, Indiana, three years ago as a four-star recruit, Grant was considered a project. He has noteworthy athleticism, but still had to develop his technique. Heading into the NFL draft, that is still largely the case.

However, that isn't to say he hasn't developed a lot during his time at Michigan. That athleticism everyone saw in him as a high schooler has only become more apparent, as he is probably the most freaky athletic defensive tackle in this class, comparable to Philadelphia Eagles and former Georgia Bulldog DT Jalen Carter.

Strengths

Kenneth Grant's biggest strengths are his size and athleticism. He has a broad build in his upper body and a long wingspan despite his average arm length. He ranked No. 3 on Bruce Feldman's annual freak list this past year and was called "a gift from the football gods" by former head coach Jim Harbaugh back in 2022 before the start of his freshman season.

What is most impressive is his movement ability for his weight. He ran a 5.13 second 40 yard dash at his Michigan pro day which many people thought would be faster, especially after the highlight of him running down Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (who reportedly ran a 4.4 40 yard dash) and making a touchdown saving tackle in 2023.

Weaknesses

The biggest thing for Kenneth Grant is that he still needs to refine his technique. I'm a big believer in your best moments are your potential and your average is how good you are. Kenneth Grant certaintly has a lot of good moments, but he is also prone to being up and down as well, lacking consistency from series to series.

He also needs to improve his pass rush and first step quickness. Going back to Mason Graham yesterday, Michigan just doesn't ask for much in terms of pass rush within their scheme from their interior defensive line. With an NFL team willing to invest the time in developing him, Grant certaintly has the athleticism to dominate as an interior pass rusher, he just needs the experience and time to develop.

NFL Draft Projection and Ideal Landing Spot

Most projections have Kenneth Grant going somewhere in the second half of the first round, picks 15-32. While there are some teams that need interior defensive line earlier in the draft (Carolina, New Orleans, New York Jets) I think it might be in Grant's best interest to go somewhere a little bit later (money aside).

Grant is certainly a project player and while I expect him to dominate in the NFL, there will be some ups and downs in his first few seasons. It'd be best for him to go somewhere committed to developing him, who can afford to be patient, has a stable coaching staff, and an established winning culture.

The ideal spot- and granted this would be a big reach- would be the 49ers at pick number 11. San Francisco is an otherwise good team that has massive needs along the both lines of scrimmage. Kyle Shanahan likely isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Also with Grant coming in at such a position of need he would get plenty of snaps right away.

Other good spots would be Miami (similar reasons as above), Seattle (playing in the same scheme and for a defensive minded coach in former Michigan football DC Mike Macdonald, or potentially even reuniting with his form defensive coordinate Jesse Minter in Los Angeles on the Chargers. Another team to keep an eye on if he somehow falls that far would be the Detroit Lions. All of these teams have stability, team need, and a vested interest in developing Kenneth Grant and sticking with him.

While there is a lot of uncertainty about where Grant could go in the NFL Draft one thing is certain, he is a monster that if the right team invests the time into will be dominating the league in just a few years.