The LA Chargers had a strong showing in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft a year after GM Joe Hortiz nailed the 2024 NFL Draft in his first year on the job. Los Angeles' draft success isn't stopping at the first three rounds as the Bolts may have made their best pick of the entire class in the fourth round.
The Chargers selected South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard with the No. 125 pick in the draft. Kennard was undoubtedly one of the best players still available on the board and fills the vacant edge rusher spot left behind by Joey Bosa.
Kennard is not your average fourth-round edge rusher. In fact, it's quite surprising the SEC Defensive Player of the Year lasted this long in the draft to begin with.
Chargers draft award-winning Kyle Kennard in fourth round of 2025 NFL Draft
Kennard won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award after an exceptional season rushing the passer. In his first season with South Carolina after a four-year stint at Georgia Tech, Kennard racked up an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks in 12 games played. He also forced four fumbles, recovering three.
As an older prospect, Kennard is a more refined prospect who should be able to come in and have an instant impact. This gives him a lower ceiling than younger prospects but the Chargers will know exactly what they are getting in his rookie season.
Kennard will likely serve as a rotational pass-rusher who helps dispel veterans Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree. It remains to be seen how Kennard will hold up against the run as an NFL rookie but he should have ample success getting after the passer.
After all, Kennard just put together a great season in the best conference in college football. Sometimes the equation isn't as complicated as it seems: draft players who are productive against the best competition. Kennard fits that billing.
Don't be surprised when Kennard comes away with several big snaps over the course of the 2025 season. He may not be an every-down player in his rookie season but that is not what the Chargers needed. The team needed pass-rush juice and it just received it in the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
All fans need to do is look at the list of recent SEC Defensive Player of the Year winners. Dallas Turner, Will Anderson (twice), Patrick Surtain, Derrick Brown and Josh Hines-Allen are the last five winners. Five of those six players are Pro Bowlers and it may just be a matter of time for Turner, who was a first-round pick last year.