FOXBOROUGH, Mass.— If you’re hunting for a breakout star at Eagles training camp, look no further than Darian Kinnard. The 24-year-old offensive lineman, who shares a high school alma mater with Jonathan Gannon and has family ties to Dolly Parton, is turning heads.
Wait, Darian who?
Kinnard, a standout at Kentucky where he mostly played offensive tackle but also some guard, was the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the SEC’s top offensive lineman. Despite his talent, Kinnard slid to the fifth round in the 2022 NFL Draft, where he was scooped up by Andy Reid and the Chiefs. He picked up two Super Bowl rings during his time in Kansas City, though his playing time was limited to six special teams snaps in a single regular-season game against the Raiders in 2022.
After finishing last year on the Chiefs’ practice squad, Kinnard hit free agency, and Eagles GM Howie Roseman didn’t hesitate to bring him on board.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 320 pounds, Kinnard signed with the Eagles on February 20 and has since been quietly making a name for himself on the team’s crowded offensive line.
With Jason Kelce retired, Jack Driscoll now with the Dolphins, and Sua Opeta out for the season with a torn ACL, the Eagles have some open spots on their 53-man roster. The competition for backup guard spots is fierce, with Kinnard battling it out against names like Mekhi Becton, Tyler Steen, and Matt Hennessy. But Kinnard’s relentless drive has propelled him into the mix, earning him second-team reps at both guard positions and right tackle.
“He’s really made a leap this past week,” Lane Johnson shared after Tuesday’s practice with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. “He was a tackle at Kentucky but has been playing mostly guard in the league. After a couple practices, I told him, ‘Take one kick and settle.’ He’s so big and athletic. He’s really turned it on. If there’s a guy on the rise, it’s D.K.”
With the starters sitting out the preseason opener against the Ravens, Kinnard stepped up, starting at right tackle and playing all 83 snaps—a feat that no other Eagle matched that night.
“He was dog-ass tired,” Johnson laughed. “But like Stout says, it’s part of the game, and you’ve got to earn it. I’m really impressed with how he’s fighting.”
It’s clear the coaching staff is taking a long, hard look at Kinnard, a promising sign for the Cleveland native. His versatility to play both guard and tackle, a trait Jeff Stoutland values highly in his backups, could give Kinnard a solid shot at making the final roster.
If Kinnard carves out a role with the Eagles, it would mark a small but sweet victory for Howie Roseman over Chiefs GM Brett Veach, the architect behind Kansas City’s three Super Bowl-winning teams.
And as for that Dolly Parton connection? Kinnard’s aunt is first cousins with the legendary singer, though he’s never had the chance to meet the “Jolene” star.
