The Los Angeles Chargers had high hopes for Kyle Kennard just one year ago. Fresh off of a win for SEC Defensive Player of the Year, the Chargers invested a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to secure his services and add youth and depth to Jim Harbaugh's pass-rushing corps. One summer later, Kennard is on the Chargers' roster bubble with a strong likelihood of being cut when active rosters are due on August 30.
Kennard's situation is one the Kansas City Chiefs might be watching with interest, both as a potential long-term developmental play and as immediate help for a position with plenty of questions.
The Chiefs' pass-rushing depth is looking shaky
Let's not forget that Ashton Gillotte just learned the news that he'd suffered a ruptured plantar fascia earlier this week. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid maintained optimism that his recovery timeline could be as short as three weeks, which left Week 1 still in play for the second-year defensive end. But the immediate fan response to the news was dire because that same sort of injury has kept NFL players off the field longer—even much longer.
Beyond Gillotte, the Chiefs would be leaning on one rookie who has yet to take his first NFL snap in R Mason Thomas, the team's second-round pick out of Oklahoma, and a player who didn't play at all in 2025 due to injury in Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a first-round pick in '23 who has yet to live up to the investment. George Karlaftis is around to anchor one side of the line, but the Chiefs have little proven depth beyond him.
The Chiefs did just dip their proverbial toe in the free-agent water with the signing of Emmanuel Ogbah, but that signing was needed before Gillotte's injury. Ogbah is coming off a disappointing season in Jacksonville, where he had a single half-sack for the Jaguars. He'll also turn 33 years old during the regular season. It's not that Ogbah can't provide value, but if injuries demand a major role from him, the Chiefs are going to be disappointed.
That's what makes a young player with Kennard's pedigree potentially intriguing if Los Angeles decides it no longer has room for him.
Kyle Kennard's pedigree makes him worth another look
Kennard is only one year removed from bringing home the Bronco Nagurski Trophy last year as the nation's best defensive player. His one-dimensional rush plan profiled more as rotational help, which is partially how the Chargers landed him on day three, but Kennard never found his professional footing. By the end of his rookie campaign, he'd played only 80 snaps and was often a healthy scratch on game days.
Kennard's lack of early production might normally buy him more time as a recent fourth-round pick, but the Chargers have a numbers problem. Even with a patient approach, the Chargers will find it hard to keep him on the 53-man roster. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu anchor the edges. Ahkeem Mesidor was the team's first-round pick. Bud Dupree is still hanging around, but the story of camp has been the excitement around undrafted free agent Nadame Tucker. The FBS leader in sacks a year ago at Western Michigan has generated buzz and feels like a lock to make the Chargers' 53-man roster.
That's quite a contrast for Kansas City, where the depth chart at defensive end falls off a cliff after the aforementioned players. It's hard to find any real energy around Tyreke Smith or Ethan Hurkett or VJ Anthony. If Gillotte has a chance of slipping onto injured reserve to start the year, or if any other player comes up hurt, Kansas City is going to be forced to make a move.
Kennard is at least a name to remember as teams chisel their rosters to 53, knowing the Chargers have some tough calls to make. If he's squeezed out in L.A., you can expect other teams to watch the waiver wire. Perhaps Brett Veach will be one general manager submitting a claim.
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