How About A Game Wrecker In The Middle
April 10th, 2025
Michigan DT Kenneth Grant.
The Eagles won the Super Bowl last year largely thanks to a brutish interior on their defensive line. The Bucs are not far away.
So how about drafting a defensive tackle at No. 19 to make the Bucs’ defensive interior even more of a terror and watch the Bucs beat the hell out of people between the tackles?
The Bucs are stout in the middle with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Greg Gaines is underrated as far as a brawler inside. But what about a guy who is Vea-like? That’s what Joe is thinking with Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.
Not only is Grant used to playing in an NFL-like defense — Grant played for Jesse Minter (now the Chargers’ defensive coordinator) and Don Martindale (long-time NFL defensive coordinator) — but Grant is NFL-like in size at 6-3, 330 pounds with wingspan of 82 5/8 inches.
That’s Jadeveon Clowney-like! That wingspan enabled him to have 10 pass breakups the past two seasons for the Wolverines.
This guy Grant is big; he’s fast; he’s strong as an ox; he hustles and has never missed a game for Michigan. As Bill Parcells famously said, “Your best ability is your availability.
Per Dan Brugler of The Athletic, as documented in his “The Beast” draft guide, Grant is his No. 4 defensive tackle.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Michigan, Grant was an interchangeable defensive tackle in defensive coordinator “Wink” Martindale’s four-man front, lining up as both a three-technique and nose tackle. He went viral during the 2023 season when he chased down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen in the open field, and he was a steady presence on the Wolverines’ defensive line the past two seasons. 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.
Here is how Emory Hunt of CBS, the Czar of the Playbook, broke down Grant in his 2025 Football Gameplan Draft Guide. Hunt has Grant as his No. 2 nose tackle.
* Very nimble for a 331-pound defensive tackle. Moves around the point of attack rather well. Shows he’s got the capability to rush the passer as well.
* Excellent run defender because of the way he’s able to use his hands to read, disengage and track the ball. Above average pursuit skills as well; underrated athleticism.
* Knows how to effectively attack any type of block. Gets his hands on the offensive lineman pretty quickly to control.
* Outstanding week at the East West Shrine Game.
Imagine having Grant line up next to Vea on run downs? Those two would choke off the holes inside and take the run away just like Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ defense did in 2020.
Joe just gets worked up thinking of the havoc Grant and Vea would deliver on a given down.
No. 21 on @JBooty88's list of Top 24 #B1GFootball Players hails from @UMichFootball.
DL Kenneth Grant is "an absolute nightmare" to game plan for. 😱 pic.twitter.com/13W8bRmo7P
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 13, 2024
April 10th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Big sexy trenches sparks complete joy for SteveK. Draft the trenches and the fans will be jolly on Sundays this fall. It all starts up front. Dominate the LoS, make them earn every blade of grass and on offense keep drafting trenches. Can’t go wrong with a quality line on both sides of the ball.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Yes please.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Way OK with this pick.
April 10th, 2025 at 10:55 am
I don’t think Grant offers much in terms of pass rush, and that’s where we need help. DT Walter Nolen would be the better interior player for what we need.
April 10th, 2025 at 11:00 am
I like Walter Nolen too, more and more seems like Bucs are drafting a DT which im on board with
April 10th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Makes no sense – unless VV is retiring. Why draft a first rounder who is not gonna start?
Better to get a DT who is available later, and can spell VV when needed.
April 10th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Exactly Joe.
This guy could even replace Hall as our DE.
I love the idea of this guy.
If he drops to 19 that’s crazy!
I would draft him in a heartbeat.
We need a bully to sub for Vea. Every time he comes out.
Like tag-team wrestling.
Vea comes out for a breather, and we bring a freaking Minataur to destroy people.
Gaines can be 3rd string.
April 10th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Defense, Defense, Defense. And then more Defense.
Not only make them earn every blade of grass, punish them for daring to even try.
Get back to the Dungy style of defense and we will take the next evolution.
Unfortunately, we do not have the HC to get there, yet.
28-27
April 10th, 2025 at 11:14 am
I’m Okay with the concept of drafting to strength , especially in the first round where the team is looking at 5 years of play.
.
Do the Joes know if VV is working out with Suh again this offseason?
.
LB3 @19
April 10th, 2025 at 11:19 am
I cruise through YouTube mock drafts every night. I saw one that was tantalizing…
It had the Bucs giving up the 19 pick for the Bears 2 second round picks giving the Bucs 3 of the first 53 picks.
April 10th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Don’t think the Bucs are looking to replace Logan Hall. Really. They like him more than fans seem to.
April 10th, 2025 at 11:36 am
Vita isn’t a spring chicken anymore, might not be a bad idea
April 10th, 2025 at 11:49 am
I would prefer they draft a corner back in the first because dean will get hurt you can bet on that like you bet on that Ira Bill Currie Ford discount. Don’t worry drive Currie baby go bucs.
April 10th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
“Big sexy trenches sparks complete joy for SteveK.”
Me too Steve!!! I agree with all here who wish to add to the DL and not just another edge.
The Bucs D is starting to show some real promise! Again for me if AW JR. is truly healthy and returns to form, along with the other additions already made the Bucs already have the nucleus of a solid lineup.
Draft a dude like this guy and another stud CB and I think the Bucs are a team to reckon with.
April 10th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
This is the pick
April 10th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
BTW I think the remaining issue is simply health, some might say depth, but in a cap balanced league depth is one of the truly hard things to acquire.
But health is PARAMOUNT. First there’s a very physical, blls to the wall QB to worry about, I hope the Trask mob are all correct, there’s the top safety in the league a real game changing player who must regain health and then of course at ILB heavy hopes rest on SVD and Dean who have yet to prove their durability.
Other than keeping Baker healthy I’m not worried about the O. Its’ not only talented but actually has depth.
And so I view CG14’s value as in the playoff run. If CG had been healthy for the Washington game as close as it was it could have made a difference.
Luckily the plethora of targets for Baker…ME…JMAC…multiple TE’s and all 3 RB’s are great receivers out of the backfield.
Let CG just EASE his way back we shouldn’t need him early. In fact cross train White at CG’s spot to spell him early. I think White could have real value as a slot receiver or perhaps a Lenny Moore type who gets moved all over the offense.
April 10th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
A look at BigBoard draft depth for the first 3 rounds of defenders:
ILB 3
OLB 3
S 5
DL1T 5
DL3T 7
CB 10
Edge 16
I like the idea of trading down to the top of rd2 with Cleveland or the Giants, both need QB’s and would value our pick at 19 ahead of the Steelers at 21. The Bucs would get an early rd2 pick,maybe rd3 plus a late round.
If the Bucs stay at 19, I don’t see them picking a backup DL1T to Vita. Maybe a DL3T, but not Nolen with his character concerns.
April 10th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
You simply cannot teach size, strength and athletic ability. That’s my issue with drafting corners or safeties later in rd1 because so much rides on their technique and ability to learn. There’s not much learning for plugging a hole. There really isn’t 1 position on D that would be a sure thing to start.
I noticed the poll to late, but I’d go ILB or DT in rd1. Grant/Nolan/Campbell yes please!
April 10th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Bring it on. Don’t think twice. If he’s there then select him.
April 10th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Joe … ‘Imagine having Grant line up next to Vea on run downs? Those two would choke off the holes inside and take the run away just like Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ defense did in 2020.’
Take it 1 step further Joe … Imagine Vea, Grant AND Kancey lined up on a critical 3rd down, with Reddick & Diaby ready to pounce from outside. If you’re the opposing OC, do you, run, pass or punt?
Fact is that Grant is Suh’s replacement in that 2020 defense (remember, that was the year that Vea missed most of the regular season & half of the playoffs). Without Suh that year, we didn’t have a prayer of winning the Super Bowl.
April 10th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
I grew up in Ann Arbor, so I’m all for drafting a Wolverine!
April 10th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Edge, CB, ILB, CB, S… in that order.
While I love the idea of stacking multiple first round DT’s across the line, Bowles’ defense is not base 4-3, so fewer interior DL and more edge are needed to cover the DT/OLB talent gap.
…and it’s a biiiiiig gap.
April 10th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Yes he does have those qualities we seek. Like you were saying DR have a nose guard with 2 defensive tackles and 2 defensive ends. I guess nowadays they call the defensive ends OLBs and call it a 34 defense. Back in the day we ran a 5 man front. I just know pressure from the middle rattle those QBs. Wirfs was saying that Brady told him as a rookie just don’t get beat inside.
April 10th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Hey, Joe, I’ve kinda liked most of your draft suggestions, but this one really got my attention. Some have complained that he won’t be a starter this year. Baloney! He will get at least half of our snaps.
April 10th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
I like DT Grant or EZ the EDGE from BC.
April 10th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
love it
April 10th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
I feel some LFS coming on…
April 10th, 2025 at 2:24 pm
A team can NEVER have too many Big Uglies.
W/L is determined by BU’s. The Pretty Boys get the headlines.
April 10th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
A DT who s Suh lke is a new brainer at 19. CB’s are available in round 2, S’s un round 3, ILB in runds 3-5, Edge in rounds 2-7 and OT in rounds 3-7
April 10th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
“Finally, a DT we can drop back into coverage 60% of the time!”
— Todd Bowles
April 10th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
Would love this pick – dude is a beast – there would be zero drop off with rotation – tush push be damned with him Vea and Gaines all submarining the C – also the batted balls that become TO’s and stop drives are something we just don’t get with our group very often – a good addition as well
April 10th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Deff would be a good addition but he prob doesn’t make that big of an impact. 3-4 defense vea is the starter and gains is a beast too so he’d have 2 bodies in front of him. I know vea is getting up there in age but we got other positions that need starters
April 11th, 2025 at 12:01 am
Would be a great addition to the trenches. I think we should also add his teammate Josaiah Stewart in the 3rd if he’s there. Highest pass rush win rate of all prospects this year and pretty good against the run as well, seems like a clone of Reddick
April 11th, 2025 at 4:11 am
Yes, this is the guy! It would be awesome if the Bucs could get him.
April 11th, 2025 at 5:13 am
If this guy falls to 19 I wouldn’t be upset if they pick him. I hate to be the one too bring it up. But Vea seems like he’s been on a snap count for the last couple years.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:36 am
“Imagine having Grant line up next to Vea on run downs?”
That is pretty much what I have been thinking Joe. Add that… I think he could help Vea pushing some dudes back into the QBs lap. My goodness that would be fun to watch!
Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Many of us would be pleasuring ourselves if this guy were the pick.
April 11th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
This is a luxury pick which we don’t have. We have enough depth at DT. It has to be Edge/OLB, ILB, Corner.
We are one injury away from ILB to be a sieve/liability in the middle. How long will Lavonte be durable? I think Todd will try his hand at corner in Rd. 2-3. The logical thing is Edge or ILB in Rd 1.
But, a heck no to Jihaad unfortunately. We need a starter now!
April 11th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Let’s not forget Vea has missed a bit of time with injuries. Not a ton, but some of it consequential because of the drop off in the ability of his replacements. And he’s 30. To me this pick would be great because a three headed monster at DT sounds freaking phenomenal; a force to be reckoned with… BUT it also bodes well as a depth contingency for a 30-something Vea
April 11th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
Smoke and mirrors. Bucs aren’t drafting interior D-lineman in first round.