New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Once Kenneth Grant gains additional consistency in his game, he'll be able to elevate his game to a whole new level.

Kenneth Grant, DL

Height: 6’4”
Weight: 331 lbs
Class: Junior
School: Michigan
Hand Size: 10 ⅛”
Arm Length: 33 ½”
40 Yard Dash: 5.13s
20 Yard Split: 3.01s
10 Yard Split: 1.72s
Vertical Jump: 31”
Broad Jump: 8’9”
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.76
3-Cone Drill: 7.69
Bench Press: 22 reps*
STATS

*At the NFL Scouting Combine (rest at Pro Day)

A former four-star recruit out of Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Indiana, where he was the eighth-graded player from his state and the 47th defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Kenneth Grant played offensive and defensive line in high school while doing shot put for the track & field team.

Grant started five games in 2023 but appeared in 15 before earning a Second-Team All-Big-10 honor en route to a National Championship in 2023.

He was a Third-Team AP All-American and Second-Team All-Big-10 in 2024. He finished his college career with 52 pressures in 592 pass-rushing reps – all but two were earned in 2023 and 2024.

He only missed four tackles in his college career, and he recorded 41 STOPs, according to Pro Football Focus.

Strengths

Thick body with broad chest and long limbs
Excellent overall athlete for a 331 pound man
Very good burst off the line – shoots laterally with haste
First step + hands are SCARY when dialed in
Heavy – dangerous – hands
Above average pass rusher with capability of stringing moves together
Club/Swat is violent – quick to hit the swim move over top
Very good overall run defender – anchors in the ground vs. double teams
Excellent overall anchor
Active hands against the run – good use/shed
Stacks and sheds one-on-one blocks vs. the run
Smart defender against the run – leverages gap, eyes on, attacks
Aware vs. pin-pull/down blocks, enough finesse to avoid and be a problem for the offense
Difficult player to uproot against the run
Good backside pursuit as a run defender
Excellent play strength and lower leg drive
Can be a space eater vs. the run
Two-gap ability
Versatile – can play across the defensive line

WE WANT KENNETH GRANT HIGHLIGHTS pic.twitter.com/ef2obikQ80
— Thy&Smi Podcast (@ThyAndSmi) March 21, 2025

Weaknesses

Size limits his ability to change direction swiftly
Lateral movement skills – once play commences – is sub-optimal
Not very bendy or flexible
Although overall above average as a pass rusher, he did disappear too frequently and lacked true consistency
Hands are more violent than precise
Conditioning may be an issue
May need to watch weight gain – rumored to have reached 360 pounds

Summary

Kenneth Grant is a massive defensive lineman who is quick enough off the snap to play 3 or 4i-shade despite his natural one or nose build.

He is an excellent linear athlete for his size, and his ability to pack power into his punches while possessing an excellent anchor, allow him to be successful against the run and pass;. However, he does need to develop consistency with his hands as a pass rusher.

Giants defensive line coach Andre Patterson would do wonders with Grant’s raw talent, size, and movement skills; if the junior can leverage his hand usage to hone in on the flashes he put on film while maintaining his run-defense skills, then he would live up to round-one value.

However, consistency with his hands must improve, but he’s one intriguing and LARGE prospect. Grant could be an option for the Giants at Pick 34.

GRADE: 6.61

Nick Falato's Draft Grade Chart | Nick Falato

Kenneth Grant, DL

Strengths

Weaknesses

Summary

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