Owen Grant didn’t land in Boston because the Cannons were desperate for help.

With a championship-caliber defense headlined by Garrett Epple, Bryce Young and Colin Kirst in net, along with the return of the “general” on defense, Jack Kielty, one of the league’s top shutdown defenders, Boston’s back end was already projected to be one of the most complete units in the PLL.

So why trade a top-three draft pick for a player who’s only appeared in three professional games?

Because Grant isn’t a patch. He’s a weapon.

“I’ve loved Owen since he was in college,” Cannons defensive coordinator John Odierna said. “He’s big, he’s fast, he’s skilled, and he plays with an edge. You don’t find guys like that every year.”

Grant enters his first full PLL season with a clean bill of health, a new defensive coordinator in Odierna and perhaps the best possible environment to unleash his game. He’s not being asked to carry a defense, but rather elevate one, and he has all the tools to do it.

'Just scratching the surface'

Coming out of Delaware, Grant solidified his reputation as one of the best lacrosse players in the program’s history: three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year, Delaware’s all-time leader in caused turnovers (123) and a two-way threat who racked up seven goals as a senior while starting every game.

He was more than disruptive -- he was absolutely dominant. And he did it all while playing with the kind of motor and physicality that thrives in this league.

“He can erase matchups,” Odierna said. “But he’s also a threat in the middle of the field. The PLL game is so fast, and he’s a fast thinker. We’re just scratching the surface of what he can be.”

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Grant brings ideal size for a pro-level long-stick midfielder or close defender. But what separates him has nothing to do with size. It’s his instincts, the ground ball prowess and his feel in transition. He’s a player who can create chaos and instantly flip the field the other way. And in a Cannons system that thrives on energy and tempo, those plays matter more than ever.

Why now, and why Boston?

For all of Grant’s promise, his professional field career to this point has been brief. Drafted second overall by the Redwoods in 2023, he was limited to three games as a rookie, then missed all of last season due to injury.

But the Cannons saw potential in him, not just in the trade market, but in their own development pipeline. They have the veteran pieces to ease Grant in. They have a coordinator who values player freedom and clarity. And they have a culture built on trust and internal accountability.

“Owen’s not a finished product, and that’s what makes him scary,” Odierna explained. “He can play fast, be aggressive and do what he does best. That’s what we want to unlock.”

In other words, Grant isn’t walking into a must-win job battle. He’s walking into a plan.

With Kielty back, Epple continuously demoralizing the top offensive players in the PLL and Ethan Rall continuing to be one of the league’s best LSMs, the Cannons don’t need Grant to be perfect. They need him to be himself. To play with energy. To force turnovers. To take risks. To grow.

He’ll have the reps. He’ll have the support. And he’ll be in a system that was built to let him shine.

Building the future around versatility

For Odierna, adding Grant is about building a unit with range and depth – one that can withstand injuries, control pace and match up with any offensive style. With younger midfielders pushing for time and the game becoming more and more transition-oriented, Grant gives the Cannons a true hybrid: a player who can defend on-ball, slide with force and create offense from defense.

“You want guys who don’t have to be subbed out, who can read the game and just go,” Odierna said. “Owen fits that perfectly.”

He may not start every game, but the Cannons didn’t trade a top pick for a short-term answer. They traded it for Grant’s ceiling. He could quietly become one of the most impactful defenders in the league within a season. And if that happens in Boston, no one would be surprised.