Colts hosted Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland on pre-draft visit

The Indianapolis Colts hosted Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland this week on an official pre-draft visit, according to Mike Garafolo. Kneeland has been generating “a lot of buzz” as of late.

With size at 6-3 – 267 pounds, length with nearly 35-inch arms, and elite athletic testing, which includes posting a Relative Athletic Score of 9.54, featuring a 4.75-second 40, and elite agility grades, Kneeland is what many teams desire in an edge rusher.

A Senior Bowl invitee, Kneeland played 1,577 career snaps and made strides each season. In 2021, he recorded 19 pressures. Then in 2022, he totaled 25. And then tallied 37 this past season, six of which were sacks.

Kneeland was an efficient pass rusher, ranking 19th in win rate, and he ranked fifth in run-stop rate as well.

For a closer look at Kneeland and what he can add to the Packers’ defense, here is what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft report:

He deals consequential first blows to opponents that often create openings for him to generate movement as a run defender or pass rusher. Teams might drop him in as a 4-3 base end, but he’s actually a more consistent playmaker when he’s standing, surveying and using his athleticism rather than fist-fighting at the point of attack. He’s a forceful rusher with a relatively simple game plan, but he does have enough bend to diversify somewhat. There are some mismatched pieces in his game but he offers toughness and talent to mold.

Edge rusher is one of the bigger needs that the Colts have. Although they totaled 51 sacks last season, they ranked 23rd in total pressures. In order to continue generating that many sacks, they need to get after the quarterback with more consistency–that pressure-to-sack ratio likely isn’t sustainable in 2024.

Kneeland’s game needs refinement, which will require some time, but his ability to hold up in the run and pass-rush upside make him a potential back-end of the rotation contributor right away.

Kneeland is the ninth-ranked edge rusher on PFF’s big board and the 58th-ranked player overall.