The Green Bay Packers used the 150th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft on Texas A&M defensive lineman Kingsley Keke.
Keke (6-3, 288) produced 51 tackles, 11 tackles for losses and seven sacks for the Texas A&M defense in 2018. He was a three-year starter, tallying 21 tackles for losses, 11 sacks and seven pass breakups over 52 games and 35 starts.
Keke moved from nose guard to defensive end in 2018 and produced his finest season. He lost weight and was far more effective pressuring the passer at a new position.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com pegged Keke as a third- or fourth-round pick.
“Potentially polarizing prospect as some teams could struggle with his best fit in the league. With his athletic ability and functional strength, a role as base in a 4-3 scheme with the ability to reduce inside is most likely,” Zierlein wrote. “One-gapping 3-4 defenses could target him as well, but he’ll need to add aggressiveness at the point of attack for that role. Keke could step into an early backup spot, but he possesses enough natural ability to aim for an eventual starter or designated rusher role.”
The Packers believe Keke can play all across the defensive front for Mike Pettine.
