5 potential replacements for Steelers OT Chukwuma Okorafor
By Tommy Jaggi
Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
Like Kenyon Green, Darian Kinnard is going to be considered one of the better offensive line prospects in this draft. However, also like Green, Kinnard is going to be considered a guard by some.
At 6’5” and 345 pounds, Kinnard is an absolute people-mover for Kentucky with outstanding functional strength to bully smaller defenders. However, Kinnard is a bit heavy-footed and could prove to struggle if he sticks at offensive tackle in the NFL.
Still, this is a gamble the Steelers could be willing to take. Pittsburgh is no stranger to taking a Kentucky player early in the draft, as they did so with Bud Dupree in 2015. If their goal is to try to establish the run with physical football players who have a nasty demeanor, then Kinnard fits the bill.
Based on his current trajectory, Darian Kinnard could be a player who winds up falling between Pittsburgh’s first and second-round picks, but he has the makings of a long-time starter in the NFL due to his elite size and brute strength that will easily translate. The Steelers could attempt to fill the void at right tackle with Kinnard and move him to guard if he doesn’t have the foot quickness at the next level.