Devon

Kennard

Kennard inked a three-year, $20 million deal with Arizona ahead of the 2020 season and is coming off a zero-sack 2021 that spanned 265 defensive snaps. Now 31 years old, Kennard will search for his fourth NFL team. The Cardinals are eating over $2.7 million in dead money against the cap.

Kennard signed a three-year, $20 million contract two years ago. That deal was adjusted in the middle of last season but he didn’t do enough to justify keeping him at a $9.1 million cap hit in 2022. The restructure likely represents a pay cut for Kennard, though it’s possible that Arizona upped his guaranteed number. Kennard logged 24 combined tackles and a fumble recovery while playing a rotational role in 2021.

Kennard signed a three-year deal with the Cardinals in 2020. He has 20 tackles and a fumble recovery this year.

Kennard was a team captain for the Lions and is coming off a career-high 45 solo tackles, so it’s a worthwhile move for Arizona who has been desperate for linebacker and edge play for years. Kennard will be a 29-year-old this year and will be looking it to make it three-straight seasons with at least 7.0 sacks.

Kennard is a 29-year-old team captain coming off back-to-back seven sack seasons and a career-high 45 solo tackles. It’s a puzzling move given his on-field production, but the Lions do save $5.4 million against the cap and did just land Jamie Collins yesterday. Kennard will have a market as a starter and should get picked up shortly.

Graziano added the crucial caveat of “as long as he stays healthy.” Hamstring injuries have limited Kennard to 21 games through two seasons, but he changed his offseason training regimen in an effort to avoid soft-tissue injuries in the future. Kennard has been stellar when on the field and could be the playmaking threat the Giants are desperate for at linebacker if he stays healthy.

Kennard (6-foot-3, 249 pounds) lacks ideal burst off the edge, but is an energetic, high-motor pass rusher. He’ll start out on special teams, but could see snaps as a reserve on defense.

The Giants are using Jameel McClain to help replace MLB Jon Beason (foot), leaving Kennard and Spencer Paysinger to compete at the SAM spot. Jacquian Williams is entrenched on the weak side. Kennard impressed during OTAs and could see snaps in the Giants’ base defense if Beason misses early-season games. McClain will move to the strong side when Beason returns.

An outside ‘backer in college, Kennard has been working exclusively as the second-team middle linebacker in OTAs. Though Kennard filled in during practice, the Giants would look to bring in veteran help if Beason misses significant time.

Undrafted rookie Dan Fox is running with the second team. It speaks to the Giants’ depth issues at linebacker. Spencer Paysinger could eventually get into the mix with Kennard, while it’s where Jameel McClain will likely shift once MLB Jon Beason (foot) returns to full health.