Much of the Los Angeles Chargers draft content is focused on finding the best offensive weapon to pair with Ladd McConkey. And that is for very good reasons. The rest of the teams struggled to move the ball in their playoff collapse against the Houston Texans earlier this year.
But a quick glance at their depth chart reveals a glaring weakness — the defensive line. Losing Poona Ford and Morgan Fox in free agency accounts for nearly 1200 snaps for the team and will now be forced to rely on Otito Ogbonnia, sophomore Justin Eboigbe, and two less-than-seasoned free agent additions in Da’Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones. Those four played a collective 1354 snaps last season. Throw in that Joey Bosa is also gone, and the picture comes into stark relief.
Should The Los Angeles Chargers Avoid Kenneth Grant?
But according to Bleacher Report, the Chargers should avoid drafting Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.
“The addition of nose tackle Kenneth Grant makes sense considering the Chargers need to get stronger along the defensive interior and the team doesn’t have anyone at the position signed beyond this season,” BR writes. “But this year’s nose tackle class is relatively deep and intriguing with names like Texas’ Alfred Collins, Maryland’s Jordan Phillips, and Kentucky’s Deone Walker, who are expected to be Day 2 selections.”
“Simply put, nose tackle doesn’t hold a lot of value, unless a prospect is expected to grow into an every-down player. Grant isn’t Dexter Lawrence. He’s closer to former collegiate teammate Mazi Smith, who has struggled to start his career. The Chargers should look toward wide receiver or tight end during the opening frame and help continue to build around quarterback Justin Herbert.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Grant as the 3rd best defensive tackle and 25th best prospect in the NFL Draft, writing “A dominant run presence, Grant is a powerful boulder who can execute two-gap techniques or stack single blocks and work down the line with quickness. He looks to fire off the ball, although his tall pads will negate his leverage and lower-body strength, diminishing his bull rush and limiting the ways in which he can impact the quarterback. Overall, Grant plays big in a big man’s game, but he also has the athletic traits and effort to grow into more than just a stout run stopper. He projects as an early-down NFL starter with three-down upside.”
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