Broncos Add Even More To D-Line, Acquire Kennedy From Rams

The Denver Broncos on Friday acquired defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy in a trade with the St. Louis Rams, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. In exchange, Denver sent St. Louis an undisclosed pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

To make room for Kennedy on its roster, Denver waived first-year cornerback Eric Hill.

Kennedy (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) is a fifth-year player who has spent the last four seasons with St. Louis. The Rams selected him in the first round (12th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft from Penn State University.

In 53 career regular-season games (30 starts), Kennedy has totaled 149 tackles (76 solo), four sacks (19 yds.), five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also has started two playoff games for his career, posting nine tackles (6 solo) and one sack (6 yds.) in those contests.

Kennedy started all 16 games for the first time in his career with the Rams in 2006 and recorded a personal-best 55 tackles (32 solo). The defensive tackle also had one sack (5 yds.), two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass breakup in 2006.

During the 2005 campaign, Kennedy registered a career-high three sacks (14 yds.) and 53 tackles (26 solo) in 15 games (9 starts) for the Rams. His play that season helped St. Louis tie for the NFL lead in forcing opponent plays for negative yardage (118).

Kennedy saw his first career postseason action with St. Louis in 2004, starting both of the club's playoff contests and recording nine tackles (6 solo) and one sack (6 yds.) in those games. As a rookie in 2003, he saw time as a reserve in 13 games and made 10 tackles.

A first-team All-American (Walter Camp) as a senior at Penn State, Kennedy totaled 213 career tackles (128 solo), 14 sacks and 39 tackles for losses for the Nittany Lions. He also received first-team All-Big Ten Conference accolades and was tabbed its defensive lineman of the year following his final season at Penn State.

Kennedy earned all-state honors as a two-way lineman for Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, N.Y., and helped the school to a state title as a junior.

Jimmy Kennedy was born on Nov. 15, 1979, in Yonkers, N.Y.