Paul Bretl | 8/24/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — With roster cuts looming, the Packers made a not-so-surprising decision to bolster their offensive line depth.
According to ESPN, the Packers are trading a 2027 sixth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for offensive lineman Darian Kinnard.
Listed at 6-5 – 322 pounds, Kinnard was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Kentucky by the Kansas City Chiefs. He met with the Packers on an official visit during the pre-draft process in 2022.
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Kinnard spent his first two seasons with Kansas City, which included being on the practice squad in 2023. Kinnard signed a futures deal with the Eagles during the 2024 offseason and made the team’s initial 53-man roster last August.
Over his career, Kinnard has appeared in only three games with one start, which came in Week 18 of last season against the New York Giants. Over 68 total snaps, including 43 in pass protection, Kinnard allowed three quarterback pressures.
Kinnard was an experienced collegiate player with over 2,500 career snaps, almost all of which came at right tackle. He was a two-time All-SEC selection and a consensus All-American in 2021.
“He’s a physical guy who could come off the football and move people,” former Kentucky coordinator Liam Coen told The Athletic prior to the 2022 NFL draft. “Once he gets his hands on you, in both the run and the pass game, he can stay connected and he’s got really strong, heavy hands.”
Kinnard has won a Super Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons.
The reason that I initially said that it wasn’t all that surprising that the Packers added to the offensive tackle position is because the depth beyond the top six on the roster–Rasheed Walker, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, and Sean Rhyan–largely underwhelmed this summer and is unproven.
“The depth right now for us, it’s not where we want it to be. I think 31 other teams are saying that same thing,” said offensive line coach Luke Butkus going into the final week of the preseason. “A lot of guys have a chance and we’re going to see whether they’re going to step up or not.”
The next three linemen on the depth chart, at least based on playing time this summer, were rookie Anthony Belton and second-year players Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings.
In 145 offensive snaps this preseason, Belton was penalized eight times, five of which came just in the first half of the Indianapolis game. Jennings’ play was up-and-down and included allowing three pressures over only 33 pass-blocking snaps against the Colts.
Monk, meanwhile, had his own struggles, surrendering five pressures and a sack over 39 pass-blocking snaps, while also being flagged three times in two preseason games. He missed the finale due to an injury.
How exactly Kinnard fits into the room remains to be seen. He could join the players already mentioned with the Packers rostering 10 offensive linemen–something we’ve seen them do in the past.
In his limited NFL playing time, Kinnard has played right tackle and right guard. Coming out of the draft, Lance Zierlein viewed Kinnard as more of an interior player. If the Packers view him the same way and choose to roster just nine offensive linemen, then either Monk or Jennings could be the odd man out. Monk, perhaps, could be a candidate to return from IR as he works through an injury.