The 49ers selected defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw with the 14th pick in the NFL Draft after swapping picks with the Buccaneers.
Kinlaw capped a strong third season at South Carolina with impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine. The massive defensive lineman is arguably the most impressive all-around physical specimen in this deep class, and is "the best defensive player in the draft," according to former Cowboys offensive lineman and RADIO.com NFL Insider Brian Baldinger.
Here's what you need to know about Javon Kinlaw:
Measurables: 6’5”/325
School: University of South Carolina
2019 Stats: 35 tackles, six for loss, six sacks, two fumbles recovered, two passes batted down
Accolades: First-Team All-SEC 2019, AP First-Team All-America 2019, USAToday Second-Team All-America 2019, AP Second-Team All-SEC 2019, ProFootballFocus Second-Team All-SEC 2019, ProFootballFocus Third-Team All-America 2019
Strengths:
• Unteachable athletic gifts for a man his size
• Plenty of lean muscle on his massive frame, with long arms and huge hands
• Explosive getting off the line
• Shows a variety of moves, used bull rush effectively
• Three years' experience in SEC
• Plays with high motor, stays with late-developing plays
• Doesn't give up on scrambling quarterbacks and will pursue ballcarriers downfield
• Blocked three field goals in college
Weaknesses:
• Relatively unpolished despite regular playing time
• Appears to lack vision or feel for blocking schemes, and can get lost in traffic in frequent double- and triple-teams
• Tailed off in second half last season after recording five of six sacks in first six games
• Has missed games with hip and knee injuries
Expert scouting report:
• "Dominant player with the athleticism, power and body type to be a starter as a 3-4 end or 4-3 tackle" -- Matt Miller, Bleacher Report
• "Physical freak who can rush inside or outside and create havoc" -- Todd McShay, ESPN
• "Much better tape than his stats might suggest. Lives in the backfield." -- Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports
Tape:
Player Comparison: Michael Brockers, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com
Kinlaw might be better suited to playing defensive end in a 3-4 scheme a la Brockers, according to Zierlein, but he adds that Kinlaw's tools "could make him a solid starter early in his career."
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