Tag: Darian Kinnard

Eagles updated 76-player roster as 2024 offseason program gets underway

We’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles updated 76 man roster as the offseason workout program gets underway

The Eagles are back at the NovaCare Complex as the offseason program begins for 76 select veterans and second-year players.

The nine-week training program has three phases: one mandatory minicamp for the entire roster and one rookie minicamp for each group.

Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program, with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.

Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program with on-field workouts, which may include individual or group instruction.

Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program, during which teams may conduct ten days of organized team practice activities, or “OTAs.”

No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.

The Eagles are changing their offseason program, including adding a mandatory minicamp for the first time under Nick Sirianni. They will have 7 OTAs (May 20, May 22-23, May 28, May 30-31) and three days of mandatory minicamp (June 4-6). In 2022 and 2023, they had six total OTAs.

With the workouts and on-field training underway, we’re looking at Philadelphia’s updated 76-player roster ahead of next week’s NFL draft.

Every move the Eagles have made so far this offseason

We’re breaking down and reviewing every move the Philadelphia Eagles have made during the 2024 NFL off-season

We’re 16 days away from the start of the 2024 NFL draft’s first round, and the Eagles along with 31 other teams have started preparing for a fast approaching training camp and regular season.

Philadelphia has been dilligent in retooling the coaching staff and a roster that’ll be without Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce for the first time since 2010.

The Eagles have been active this offseason, adding Saquon Barkley, Bryce Huff and Kenny Pickett among others, while Haason Reddick was traded, and a handful of other free agents departed.

With the final draft preparation underway, we’re looking at every move Philadelphia has made this off-season.

Eagles sign OT Darian Kinnard to a deal ahead of NFL free agency

The Eagles announced two roster moves on Tuesday, signing running back Tyrion Davis-Price and offensive Darian Kinnard ahead of NFL free agency.

The Eagles announced two roster moves on Tuesday, signing running back Tyrion Davis-Price and offensive Darian Kinnard ahead of NFL free agency.

Drafted by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Kentucky, Kinnard was projected as more of a guard coming out of college, and his struggles at the tackle position in Kansas City suggest that those projections may have been correct.

Kinnard made the Chiefs’ roster in 2022 but appeared in just one game, earning six snaps on special teams.

In 2023, Kinnard spent the season on the practice squad, making the trip to Las Vegas for the Chiefs Super Bowl win over the 49ers.

As a senior at Kentucky, Kinnard was named a consensus first-team All-American, earning first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS/247sports, Phil Steele, and the Senior Bowl. He was a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus, The Sporting News, USA Today, and The Athletic.

He was one of only three Power Five conference tackles to grade at 85 percent or better as a run and pass blocker by Pro Football Focus.  He was a consensus first-team All-SEC selection.

18 recently cut players the Colts should consider adding

The Colts will have plenty of options to choose from on the waiver wire.

The Indianapolis Colts officially set the initial 53-man roster before Tuesday’s deadline, but more changes to the group are expected to come.

With over 1,000 players being waived and released in one fell swoop Tuesday afternoon, the Colts will have a strong chance to claim as many players as they want from the waiver wire.

They hold the No. 4 spot in the order and there’s no limit to how many claims they make as long as they can make the corresponding moves to satisfy the 53-player limit.

General manager Chris Ballard is typically a pretty active member of the waiver wire the day following roster cuts.

Here are a few names the Colts should consider adding either through free agency or through the waiver wire:

Chiefs waived 2022 fifth-round pick Darian Kinnard on Tuesday

The #Chiefs waived 2022 fifth-round pick Darian Kinnard on Tuesday as they cut their roster to 53 players.

The Kansas City Chiefs waived second-year offensive lineman Darian Kinnard on Tuesday.

The Chiefs opted to keep 10 other offensive linemen as they trimmed the roster down to 53 players. Kinnard barely missed the cut despite the team spending a fifth-round draft pick on him one year ago. Kinnard made the Chiefs’ roster in 2022 but appeared in just one game, earning six snaps on special teams.

Kinnard, a 6-foot-5, 322-pounder out of Kentucky, was always sort of a project for the Chiefs as the team attempted to use him at right tackle early on. Kinnard was projected as more of a guard coming out of college, and his struggles at the tackle position in the pros suggest that those projections may have been correct.

Even with the release, the Kinnard project likely remains unfinished. Plenty of raw talent remains, so Kinnard will probably find his way on the Chiefs’ practice squad if another team doesn’t claim him off waivers.

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10 Chiefs with the most to prove in Kansas City’s preseason matchup vs. Saints

These 10 #Chiefs have the most to prove in Kansas City’s preseason kickoff against the #Saints on Sunday.

The Kansas City Chiefs intend to defend their Super Bowl LVII title in 2023 and are in the process of determining which players belong on their 53-man roster ahead of the new season. Preseason exhibitions are an ideal time for younger athletes to make their case for a spot on the team, and several Chiefs will have something to prove ahead of Kansas City’s kickoff on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Guys like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Creed Humphrey, and L’Jarius Sneed have nothing to fear heading into the highly anticipated preseason matchup, but others will be fighting for their jobs in the Big Easy. Expectations are high for the Chiefs, and they can’t afford to keep anyone who hasn’t proven to be the best of the best if they want to win a second straight championship.

Here are 10 players who have the most to prove in Kansas City’s tilt against New Orleans on Sunday:

Chiefs GM Brett Veach evaluates right tackle situation ahead of 2023 NFL draft

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach shared his thoughts on the team’s right tackle situation and who could take the next step in their development. | from @EdEastonJr

The offensive line has been a project that’s seen tremendous growth over the past two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs. General Manager Brett Veach made it a mission to surround Patrick Mahomes with quality protection and keep him healthy to ensure long-term success.

The Chiefs parted ways with both Andrew Wylie and Orlando Brown Jr. at the beginning of the offseason, opening a path for more playing time to some of their young linemen. With the addition of Jawaan Taylor in free agency, the biggest question mark remains the right tackle position. A player that has potential is third-year OT Lucas Niang. He hasn’t seen a lot of time on the field, in part due to opting out in 2020 and in part due to injury, but Veach continues to believe that he can be a contributor.

“We have a lot of hopes for Lucas (Niang),” said Veach. “And you know, he was the guy that actually won that starting right tackle position, then he got hurt. It’s been a little bit of an uphill battle. Um, he had a pretty bad injury there. But he has worked phenomenally to get in shape. And Rick (Burkholder) and his staff have done a great job of continuing to get him in the right positions to go out there and be productive.”

While Niang appears to be set for a more significant role, Veach also highlighted Prince Tega Wanogho and Darian Kinnard as players ready to take the next step in their development.

“Prince (Tega Wanogho) is a guy that has always kind of steadily grown every year has been here, and I think (Darian) Kinnard, you know, I’m excited for him,” said Veach. “And I think he’ll have a chance to play, play some tackle. We certainly think he has flex, and he may end up being ultimately a better guard. He’s played right tackle in the past, and he was the guy that, you know, struggled a little early on, but I think toward the end of training camp there, and throughout the season, you guys probably don’t get to see as much during the season, but he’s, I think grown rapidly over the last few months. I know Coach (Andy) Heck is really excited for where he is, so again, I think he’s a guy that has flexibility, so he’ll probably get reps at both guard and tackle there.

“But between those three guys and we have three solid guys that can go in there and compete and you know, I’m sure we’ll look to continue to add depth all across that offensive line.”

The Chiefs could add more offensive line help in the draft, but Veach is still looking for opportunities to get young talent who are already enriched in the culture more involved. The returning players with something to prove could lessen the urgency and need to pick an offensive tackle early in the 2023 NFL draft.

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Darian Kinnard’s future with Chiefs could be at guard position

#Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck provided an intriguing update on rookie Darian Kinnard’s growth this season.

Kansas City Chiefs OL coach Andy Heck provided an intriguing update on rookie OL Darian Kinnard on Thursday.

Coming out of the 2022 NFL draft, the sense seemed to be that the team would start Kinnard at the position he played in college (right tackle) and go from there. While other NFL clubs told him they viewed him as a guard, the Chiefs wanted to at least give Kinnard a shot at tackle. He received the majority of his snaps during the offseason program at right tackle, but he always knew in the back of his mind he had to be prepared to play any spot.

On the team’s opening depth chart, Kinnard was listed as a second-string right tackle behind Andrew Wylie. He still hasn’t moved from that spot on the depth chart, but with the return of Lucas Niang, Heck says that Kinnard has been getting more and more work at the guard position.

“(Darian) Kinnard, really has grown – we’ve seen him grow,” Heck said. “He played the tackle position and then we’ve been getting him some more guard work. I think he’s got that kind of flex to whether he can play either or, but he’s taken to that guard position in there and looks great.”

Kinnard has contributed the least amount of the Chiefs’ rookie draft class, with just six snaps on special teams so far this season, but that doesn’t mean he’s not making good progress. Given Heck’s comments, it sounds like Kinnard’s future with the team might be on the interior offensive line, with the ability to flex out and play tackle in a pinch. A role that is reminiscent of what Andrew Wylie played for the team prior to his promotion to right tackle.

It’d likely take a few injuries for Kinnard to see the field this season, but with both Joe Thuney and Trey Smith dinged up at various points of the year, it’s good to have the rookie on his toes and ready to contribute.

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Chiefs rookie Darian Kinnard is preparing to play multiple offensive line positions

#Chiefs rookie OL Darian Kinnard says he’s preparing to play any position on the offensive line, including left tackle. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made an effort to provide depth at several positions this offseason. The majority of players drafted in April were on the defensive side of the ball, with a few exceptions.

Darian Kinnard, a fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Kentucky, was one of those exceptions. He boasts impressive size and quickness, but he played the right tackle position for the majority of his career. In the NFL with the Chiefs, Kinnard is preparing to play multiple positions along the offensive line.

Versatility is always needed, and according to Kinnard, he’s no exception.

“I’ve just got to be prepared to play any position,” said Kinnard. “I got reps there at right (tackle). But who knows, he could come to me tomorrow since we don’t have a left tackle right now. . . So I’m just out here working whatever position he wants me to walk in and get ready.”

The current situation with Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has opened up opportunities for Kinnard to potentially fill in at left tackle. With only rookies and select veterans in attendance during the early portions of training camp, Kinnard has taken repetitions at both tackle and guard spots.

“I mean, right now, I’m playing whatever position I need to play at,” said Kinnard. “Coach (Andy) Heck, put in my head, you know, get reps at either. I’m not going to be very valuable if I only play one position. If I’m only specified at one position, he wants to have the confidence to come up to me at the end of the day and say, ‘Play guard.’ I’ll play guard. But just learning, one day at a time.”

Kinnard is a prospect that could see plenty of time on the field in relief or as a starter should he perform well in training camp. If Brown Jr. holds out, it could open an opportunity for Kinnard as he continues to grow and learn.

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LOOK: Darian Kinnard dyes hair Chiefs red for training camp

#Chiefs rookie RT Darian Kinnard said he’d dye his hair red eventually and he made good on that promise for training camp.

Kansas City Chiefs rookies have officially arrived at training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.

One particular rookie arrived sporting new hair stylings. Chiefs fifth-round draft pick Darian Kinnard previously had blue hair, representing his college at the University of Kentucky. Now, Kinnard has a new color in his hair to represent his NFL team. Yes, he dyed his hair Chiefs red.

Our friend Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride spotted the new hairstyling at training camp and snapped a photo.

Kinnard was asked about his hair at rookie minicamp and said that a change was coming eventually. At the time he was focused more on getting the playbook down than what his hair looked like.

“Oh, yeah, I was going to,” Kinnard told reporters at rookie minicamp. “That’s the gameplan. Right now, I’m just getting through minicamp. My biggest focus is just getting better at my position. (My hair) will turn red eventually. Just know that.”

It seems he had some time to dye his hair and make good on that promise as he heads into his first NFL training camp.

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