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Drafting Kenneth Grant Would Show Steelers Are Serious About Stopping the Run
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- Drafting Kenneth Grant Would Show Steelers Are Serious About Stopping the Run
Kenneth Grant, Michigan Athletics
INDIANAPOLIS. —If you've been following along through the NFL Draft process thus far, you know by now that the defensive line position is considered one of the stronger groups in this entire class. This sentiment was echoed by Steelers general manager Omar Khan during his media availability here at the NFL Combine. Coming off a national championship season in 2023, Michigan wasn't quite able to replicate that type of success this past fall. But you certainly can't blame the defensive line for those troubles, starting with their nose tackle Kenneth Grant .
Even though the team fell short of expectations, Grant still has found memories, recalling their win against the eventual National Champions, Ohio State, as the best film he put on display for scouts.
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"Coach Wink (Martindale) lined up me in that zero-technique and I was eating all game to be honest," Grant said. "I was stopping the run pretty good and then that gave me the opportunity to go rush the passer. I was getting back there a lot."
In his finale in the maize and blue, Grant racked up five pressures and three stops in their upset win, per PFF .
As one of the few underclassmen in this draft, he's looking to put some preconceived notions to rest, particularly the idea that he's just a two-down player.
"I'm a three down player for sure, I can rush the passer with my strength and add a little finesse in there," Grant said. "Most guys think I'm just a run stuffer but I'm super athletic and can rush the passer."
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Grant is currently 332 pounds, down from the 345 that he played at in college. It's logical to assume that he wanted to trim down to showcase his explosiveness during the testing drills, adding that he wanted to get into the 4.8-second range for the 40-yard dash.
With the Steelers mantra of building through the trenches intact, it's no surprise that they scheduled a formal meeting with Grant on arrival .
"It was very serious,' Grant said. "They want competitors and dudes that are ready to go."
Head coaches are typically involved in the formal interview process and Grant gave a glowing recommendation of Mike Tomlin.
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"He's a pretty cool dude," Grant said. "Most people think he's so serious but he's all about his business. He's easy to communicate with."
As you'd expect for a guy with his stature, Grant is a forceful fella and he shared some insight how he formulates his pass rush plan. "My best thing is the bull and pull series, bull-rip. I'm trying to work more on my power because it always starts with power and then you can get into the finesse things." Grant is a known commodity as a run defender but every team in the vicinity is trying to figure out just how much is left to unlock as a pass rusher.
Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant tackles Penn State running back Kaytron Allen on Nov. 11, 2023. — Matthew Lynch / Nittany Sports Now
HOW DOES KENNETH GRANT FIT WITH STEELERS?
We saw Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin focus heavily on upgrading the offensive line but 2025 could be the inverse given the perceived strength of the class. After a five-game losing streak that concluding with a loss to their divisional rival Baltimore Ravens , a game in which they allowed nearly 300 rushing yards, it's obvious that they can't simply runs things back on that side of the ball and expect different results. With seven selections on draft weekend, selecting one defensive lineman seems like a formality but there's a reality where the board aligns in a way that they even double dip.
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Cam Heyward is still an integral piece of their foundation but at 36-years old, it's difficult to see him sustaining his dominance for very much longer. Keeanu Benton has been a solid starter and still has some upside to continue developing, especially versus the run. Outside of that? That's where things get pretty dicey. Larry Ogunjobi hasn't been able to live up to the $28M contract that was handed to him in the spring of 2023.
By theoretically inserting Grant into the fold, it would give the Steelers something that they haven't really had in quite some time: a true nose tackle. Keeanu Benton, like Javon Hargrave before him, is more of a disruptor that can cause havoc by getting upfield but those guys come with some obvious deficiencies in the run game department. The real hidden value here is that by making this sort of addition, you could get a guy like Benton further away from the ball where he doesn't have to deal with as many double teams.
It's hard to believe that Grant is as nimble as he is for his size, he's pretty quick and you'll frequently see him swim past blockers into the backfield to cause havoc. He's got way more range that you would assume, can flow well laterally and even has some jaw-dropping plays of him running ball carriers down from behind. If you're trying to base blocks this guy with one person, just forget about it because his hands are far too violent for that. When he comes off the ball with good pad level, he can crush the pocket with his combination of explosiveness and power. As a finesse rusher, he can cross face and has some flexibility in his ankles to surge through blocks on his way to the quarterback.
There's still a lot of room to grow from a technical standpoint, which is promising because he projects as a player that can contribute right away. Grant's snap anticipation and pass-rush plan need more seasoning. He's not quite ready to roll from a block recognition standpoint and his first instinct is often to raise his pad level instead of anchoring down against double teams. His size alone should make him a useful player but if he can clean a handful of things up from a technical standpoint, Grant could morph into a true terror.
Michigan DT Kenneth Grant stretches before a game against Fresno State on Aug. 31, 2024. — Maize & Blue Nation
KENNETH GRANT COLLEGE STATS
Grant was a two-year starter for the Wolverines defense. In 2024, he registered career highs in pressures (27), tackles for loss (7) and total stops.
| Year – Team |
GS |
Tkl |
TFL |
Sack |
PD |
INT |
FF |
FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 – Michigan |
12 |
32 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 2023 – Michigan |
15 |
29 |
5 |
3.5 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 2022 – Michigan |
14 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
TALE OF THE TAPE
Listed by Michigan:6-foot-3, 339 pounds
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WHERE WILL BE KENNETH GRANT BE DRAFTED?
Grant's draft stock has hovered around the back half of the first round for a while now. With Michigan's season ending earlier than expected and since he sat out the East-West Shrine Bowl event, he hasn't really been able to improve his stock. However, it's entirely possible that he blows teams away with his testing measurables since he slimmed down before arriving in Indy.
FILM ROOM
ODDS AND ENDS
Grant attended Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Indiana, which was also the home of former NFL players Mike Neal , Ryan Neal , Jamel Williams and Eugene Wilson. … The Steelers have drafted 22 players from Michigan all-time, which is tied with Michigan State and Ohio State for the sixth-most in team history. … Grant thew the shot put in high school, qualifying for the state championships.
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