Tag: Marshawn Kneeland

Commanders to host Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland on pre-draft visit

The Commanders bringing in another defender on a pre-draft visit.

The Washington Commanders have six picks in the first three rounds of this month’s 2024 NFL draft. While Washington is expected to take a quarterback at No. 2 overall, it must address other areas on the roster, too.

One of those positions is defensive end. The Commanders traded defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline last fall and allowed backups Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams to depart via free agency.

Under new head coach Dan Quinn, Washington signed veterans Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell in free agency. They join a room that includes second-year edge rushers K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr.

With Ferrell and Fowler only signed to one-year deals, the Commanders could use some of their draft capital to address the position. One player Washington has shown interest in, according to NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, is Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland.

Pauline says Kneeland has 16 visits scheduled, with Washington being one of those visits.

Kneeland played in 37 career college games, and while he didn’t post eye-popping sack numbers, he was productive. A former high school tight end, Kneeland is athletic and is known more as a power rusher than a speed rusher.

The Commanders continue to focus on bringing in players on top-30 visits who have high-level traits. Kneeland is expected to be drafted on the second day of the draft.

 

Panthers reportedly have top-30 visit scheduled with Marshawn Kneeland

The Panthers are reportedly among the handful of teams who have a top-30 visit set for Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland.

The Carolina Panthers really needed some pass-rushing help when we all woke up on Monday. Unfortunately, they needed even more when bedtime rolled around.

This year’s negotiating window opened a bit too wide yesterday, as the Panthers lost three of their top outside linebackers. Not only did they trade two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants, but they also saw Frankie Luvu and Yetur Gross-Matos agree to terms elsewhere in the conference.

So, general manager Dan Morgan and company will have to find some gems this spring—and they may be ready to meet with one in Marshawn Kneeland.

According to Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler, the Western Michigan University edge defender has a top-30 visit scheduled with the Panthers. Kneeland—per Fowler—has also met or will meet with the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder totaled 12.5 sacks and 28.0 tackles for a loss during his four seasons in Kalamazoo. He earned a second-team All-MAC nod in 2023 after posting 7.5 sacks.

Kneeland is the second prospect to have a reported top-30 visit with Carolina, joining University of Southern California wideout Brenden Rice

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Marshawn Kneeland attracts a big crowd for Western Michigan’s pro day

Rising 2024 NFL draft prospect Marshawn Kneeland attracts a big crowd for Western Michigan’s pro day

One of only two pro days on the workout circuit attracted quite a crowd to Kalamazoo on Monday. Nearly everyone was there to watch one player: Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.

Kneeland, from nearby Wyoming Godwin Heights High School in Grand Rapids, was one of seven WMU Broncos players participating in the pro day. Let’s just say that over 50 scouts and coaches from 23 NFL teams didn’t make the trip to watch WR Leroy Thomas or TE Austin Hence.

After opting to stand on his outstanding NFL Scouting Combine athletic testing numbers, scouts eagerly watched the 6-foot-3. 267-pound Kneeland go through positional drills.

Kneeland’s workout was run by New York Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. At least four other NFL defensive line coaches were at the workout inside the Seelye Center on WMU’s campus.

Kneeland has definitely risen in the draft process, beginning with an excellent showing at the Senior Bowl. He’s had to answer questions about a relative lack of productivity — just 4.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs in 10 games in 2023 — for several NFL teams already. Among them are the Chiefs, Seahawks, Bills, Eagles, Lions, Falcons and Texans.

Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland set to visit Jaguars

The Jaguars are reportedly using one of their top 30 visits to bring in Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland for a closer look.

Western Michigan pass rusher Marshawn Kneeland is set to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a Top 30 visit, according to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.

Per Fowler, Kneeland has already visited with the Kansas City Chiefs and has visits scheduled with the Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers.

While every NFL team had access to just about every prospect at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, each club is allowed to bring in 30 players for a “Top 30” visit.

Kneeland has no shortage of interest after racking up 28 tackles for loss during his collegiate career at Western Michigan. At the combine, he turned heads with a 119-inch broad jump, 35.5-inch vertical jump, and 4.75 40-yard dash at 6’3, 267 pounds.

The Jaguars are in need of more pass rushing talent with both Dawuane Smoot and K’Lavon Chaisson set to become free agents. While the duo of Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for 27.5 sacks, the rest of the team combined couldn’t hit half that total.

Last week, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network ranked Kneeland as the No. 48 prospect in the 2024 NFL draft.

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Saints schedule Top-30 visit with Western Michigan combine standout

The New Orleans Saints have scheduled a Top-30 draft visit with Marshawn Kneeland, an NFL Scouting Combine standout from Western Michigan:

The New Orleans Saints have scheduled their second Top-30 prospect visit of the 2024 NFL draft, after lining one up previously with Northern Iowa defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Next up on the docket is Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland, per Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report.

Kneeland was one of the 321 total players invited to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine and was also a participant at the 2024 Senior Bowl. At the combine, Kneeland weighed in at 6-foot-3 and 267 pounds and stood out as an exceptional athlete in pretty much every event. He ranked highly amongst his peers at the defensive end position:

  • 40-yard dash: 4.75 seconds (19th)
  • 10-yard split: 1.66 seconds (tied-18th)
  • Vertical jump: 35.50 inches (8th)
  • Broad jump: 9 feet 11 inches (T-14th)
  • 3-cone drill: 7.02 seconds (1st by 0.28 seconds)
  • 20-yard shuttle: 4.18 seconds (1st)
  • Bench Press: 21 reps (T-8th)

It is worth noting that he has been listed at defensive tackle in other rankings, which would only help his case. In terms of Relative Athletic Score, a measure created by Kent Lee Platte, Kneeland ranked 75th out of 1,620 defensive tackles from 1987 to present day, with a 9.54 out of 10.00.

Kneeland is an extremely disruptive defensive lineman with 37 total pressures, 6 sacks, 38 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles this past season. He also has NFL size for a defensive lineman, a similar frame to Cameron Jordan who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds. Kneeland will absolutely be an intriguing prospect in this draft process, and he may see a substantial rise in draft stock due to his combine success.

He also has other Top-30 visits scheduled with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers, so it is extremely clear that he is garnering attention in the pre-draft process. He’s currently seen as a second-round draft prospect.

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Breaking down Rams’ picks in Touchdown Wire’s latest 2-round mock draft

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar released a 2-round mock draft after the combine, fortifying the trenches for the Rams

It’s anyone’s guess as to which position the Los Angeles Rams will address first in this year’s draft. Cornerback and edge rusher are two of their biggest needs, but the Rams have also expressed interest in wide receivers and could use offensive line help, too.

In Doug Farrar’s latest mock draft for Touchdown Wire, the Rams address the O-line first and also add a pass rusher with their second pick. In Round 1, they land Taliese Fuaga out of Oregon State.

Round 1, Pick 19: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

Though he played right tackle in college, he’s a candidate to move to guard, which would help the Rams immensely if Kevin Dotson leaves in free agency. Even if Dotson returns, Fuaga would be a solid swing tackle initially before eventually getting a crack to replace Rob Havenstein as the starting right tackle.

Fuaga tested extremely well at the combine for a 6-foot-6 and 324-pound tackle. He ran a 5.13 in the 50-yard dash and posted a 32-inch vertical, showing off the athleticism that will make him a first-round pick.

Round 2, Pick 51: OLB Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

In the second round, the Rams add Marshawn Kneeland out of Western Michigan. The edge rusher is 6-foot-3 and 267 pounds, and he ran a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash. He fits best as a stand-up edge rusher in a scheme like the Rams’, with his 1.66-second 10-yard split showing the type of burst he has off the line. He’s plenty explosive, too, as evidenced by his 35.5-inch vertical.

With the Rams needing an edge rusher to pair alongside Byron Young, Kneeland would be a good selection in Round 2, though it’s possible the Rams would be able to get him a little bit later if they wait.

Chargers post-2024 NFL Scouting Combine 4-round mock draft

The Chargers trade back eight spots and end up with six picks in the first four rounds.

This year’s NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, with those who performed well skyrocketing up draft boards while those who had a week to forget fade into obscurity.

Here are my four-round projections following the event.

2024 Scouting Combine: Which DL, EDGE, and LB helped themselves the most?

2024 Scouting Combine: Which DL, EDGE, and LB helped themselves the most? (via @NFL_DougFarrar):

INDIANAPOLIS — For some draft prospects, the scouting combine on-field drills are mere confirmation for NFL teams looking to add a bit to positive tape study and personal interviews. For others, it’s a bigger deal, as great numbers might have some personnel people going back to that tape to see what they might have missed the first time around.

On Thursday afternoon and evening, we saw the defensive linemen, edge defenders, and off-ball linebackers do their thing on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. While a lot of prospects acquitted themselves well, here are the ones who did the most to stand out, and to potentially see their stocks rise through the next two months before the 2024 NFL draft is in the bag.

5 Chargers targets who stood out on Day 1 of 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Here are five players who could be on the Chargers’ radar who increased their draft stock.

The first day of on-field workouts at the Scouting Combine did not disappoint. A handful of edge defenders, defensive tackles and linebackers put on a show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Here are five players who could be on the Chargers’ radar who increased their stock with eye-opening demonstrations of athleticism.

2024 Scouting Combine: Which DL, EDGE, and LB helped themselves the most?

Which edge-rushers, defensive linemen, and linebackers helped themselves the most in the scouting combine drills? We have the answers here.

INDIANAPOLIS — For some draft prospects, the scouting combine on-field drills are mere confirmation for NFL teams looking to add a bit to positive tape study and personal interviews. For others, it’s a bigger deal, as great numbers might have some personnel people going back to that tape to see what they might have missed the first time around.

On Thursday afternoon and evening, we saw the defensive linemen, edge defenders, and off-ball linebackers do their thing on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. While a lot of prospects acquitted themselves well, here are the ones who did the most to stand out, and to potentially see their stocks rise through the next two months before the 2024 NFL draft is in the bag.