Several picks from the 2025 NFL Draft have LA Chargers fans buzzing before they even take the field. Led by first-round pick Omarion Hampton, the Chargers have put together another draft class that fans can be excited about.
Whether it be an impactful player in the third round or a sleeper on day three of the draft, the Chargers are welcoming several rookies who project to be impactful. ESPN's Ryan Clark, who previously played in the NFL, has circled fourth-round pick Kyle Kennard as one of his favorite sleepers in the draft.
The edge rusher out of South Carolina is the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year and seems like a legitimate steal in the fourth round. Clark is not alone in sharing this sentiment.
Kyle Kennard may prove to be the steal of the entire draft for the Chargers
Let's just run through the list of players that have won SEC Defensive Player of the year in recent years. Dallas Turner, Will Anderson Jr. (twice), Pat Surtain, Derrick Brown, Josh Hines-Allen, Roquan Smith, and Jonathan Allen.
Six of those seven players have made the Pro Bowl in the NFL. The only player who hasn't is Dallas Turner, who was a first-round pick in last year's draft and hasn't even reached his potential yet in the NFL.
History repeats itself and the history book tells us that Kennard is going to be an impact player in the NFL. So why did he fall all the way to the Chargers in the fourth round? Well, there are a few explanations that may end up being extremely silly.
Kennard will be limited in what snaps he can play early on in his career. Early on, Kennard projects to be a situational pass rusher who doesn't play on early downs. As he builds up strength to go at NFL tackles, Kennard will improve his run defense and can become an every-down player.
The Chargers don't need Kennard to play every single snap in 2025, as they already have a talented edge rusher room. They just need someone who can dispel Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree, which Kennard can do.
Learning under Mack, Kennard should be able to make the necessary steps to go from an exciting pass rusher to an all-around edge rusher.
Kennard's age may have also been a factor. Kennard is on the older side of prospects, which naturally leads to there being a lower ceiling in his projections. That's fine, though. The Chargers don't need over a decade of production from Kennard. If he can develop into a true starter in year two, and gives the Chargers 3-4 years of great starting edge play, that is a win.
Even if he never reaches his ceiling, Kennard has such a high floor compared to other fourth-round picks so he should produce in some manner for the Bolts. This is another Chris Rumph selection where the Chargers take someone with traits who never develops. Kennard will be an impact player either way.