Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers could be losing TJ Slaton this offseason. The defensive tackle is set to hit the open market and smart money would suggest that the former Florida Gator won’t get a second deal in Green Bay (Tom Silverstein just broke news that the Packers are re-signing Slaton).
Kenneth Grant is a player who could be a potential replacement and viewed as an upgrade over Slaton. The Michigan defensive tackle checks in at No. 85 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A three-star recruit, Grant had minimal production during his first season at Ann Arbor. In 2023, Grant recorded five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception and five pass deflections. This past season he recorded seven tackles for loss, three sacks and five pass deflections.
The Wolverines, like Penn State, have recently produced a ton of uber-athletic defensive linemen in recent years. Grant is cut from the same cloth. He’s listed at 6-3, 342 pounds and has outstanding movement skills for a player of his size. His size and athleticism were a big reason why Grant was No. 3 on Bruce Feldman’s Freak’s list.
“Kenneth Grant’s greatest strengths are his ability to eat up space and his unique quickness at his size,” Devin Jackson, an NFL Draft writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer said. “He does a nice job of varying his approach in shooting upfield, using either a swim move or his tremendous arm length to get into the chest of interior linemen.”
Grant has a lot of power flowing through his frame. He’s stout at the point of attack and can be difficult to move. He’s able to attack the gaps with violent hand usage and good initial quickness off the snap. The former three-star recruit has good pursuit quickness to make plays tackle-to-tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Grant registered 22 run stops this past season.
“It’s hard to move him off his spot, though I think he could be a little more consistent in being stout on double teams,” Jackson said. “He uses a swim move to get quick wins, and has shown the ability to stack, peek, and shed offensive linemen.”
While Grant is never going to lead the league or even his respective team in sacks, he has the raw power to collapse the pocket. If he’s unable to win with his bull rush, Grant utilizes a crafty swim move to get to the quarterback. To go along with his 6.5 sacks, Grant also recorded 50 pressures over the past two seasons.
“Grant, mostly, provides effort as a pass rusher and was the anchor to Michigan’s stunts in the interior,” Jackson said. “His ability to hold two blockers at times to free up another teammate was impressive, but in one-on-one situations, he relies on speed to power bull rushes and swim moves as an interior pass rusher.”
Fit with the Packers
Green Bay’s defensive line was hot and cold during Jeff Hafley’s first season as defensive coordinator. The inconsistent play led to defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich being dismissed.
The Packers will have a new voice leading that room and will likely have a new player or two as well.
With Slaton likely having played his last snap in Green Bay, the Packers could use a defensive tackle with Grant’s skill set. He would clog up running lanes and could provide a slight shot in the arm to the interior pass rush.
“If you’re drafting Grant, you’re looking for a high-motor interior run stuffer, who thrives at shooting upfield and disrupting plays in the backfield,” Jackson said. “While he needs more work anchoring against double teams, Grant’s upside is a 2-down run stuffing 1-tech who can give you some interior pocket pushing on third downs, though that won’t be his role early in his career.”
On paper, the Packers have a solid defensive tackle group. Even with the potential departure of Slaton, the Packers still have Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks.
Now rip up that piece of paper.
Clark arguably had the worst season of his career. Is that a sign that he’s starting to fall off? Or was it just a blip on the radar?
It remains to be seen if Green Bay will pick up Wyatt’s fifth-year option. Brooks is a solid rotational piece, but his presence shouldn’t stop Gutekunst from adding a player like Grant to the mix.
Grant needs to iron out some parts of his game, like playing with proper pad level consistently, and continuing his development as a pass rusher. Even with those rough patches, there is no denying Grant’s talent.
Slaton played 457 snaps this past season and recorded 14 pressures, 20 run stops, two tackles for loss and one sack.
Hand those 457 snaps to a player with Grant’s skill set and it could help Green Bay’s front seven turn into a more dominant force.
Grant has the strength and quickness to clog things up against the run and make plays behind the line of scrimmage, whether that’s him making the tackle for loss or freeing up a linebacker like Quay Walker or Edgerrin Cooper.
