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49ers fans should be thrilled about Javon Kinlaw in 2020

By Jeremy Wohlfart

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Javon Kinlaw #3 of the South Carolina Gamecocks before their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Javon Kinlaw #3 of the South Carolina Gamecocks before their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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Javon Kinlaw has all the tools to be an immediate impact player for the 49ers.

It’s become almost a San Francisco 49ers tradition for them to draft a defensive lineman as a first-round selection in the NFL Draft.

The defensive philosophy for San Francisco is that the defensive line is where you build great defenses, and they’ve been aggressive in plugging any holes that appear. This year, the tradition continues with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, who will plug the hole left by the former 49ers defensive tackle, DeForest Buckner, who was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in a salary cap squeeze.

Kinlaw is a rookie and Buckner was the heart of the 49ers defense, so Kinlaw has some big shoes to fill.

However, Kinlaw has every physical attribute possible to accomplish this.

Kinlaw is a little shorter and a little heavier than Buckner was for San Francisco, so he won’t play exactly the same way. But his frame (6-foot-5, 324 pounds), allows him to play with more power and more leverage.

Kinlaw is a monster in the trenches and has the ability to bully guards with both his power and his speed. He has a relentless motor that allows him to be quick at the point of attack and utilize his impressive leverage.

Being so quick allows him to prevent defenders from getting a hold of him and crash through blocks. The 49ers don’t blitz much and demand that their front four get constant pressure on the quarterback, and Kinlaw should have no problems with that even in his rookie year.

Kinlaw’s impressive frame also allows him to be an immovable object when defending against the run, and he can be a brick wall that disrupts runners. His quick burst allows him also to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Kinlaw has landed in an excellent home. He has three exceptionally talented teammates in fellow defensive tackle Arik Armstead, EDGE Nick Bosa and EDGE Dee Ford who will take the attention away from him. Since the other defenders (mostly Bosa) will be seeing more attention, that’ll mean less focus on Kinlaw by defenses.

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Kinlaw has an impressive skill set, a perfect opportunity to make a bang right away in his rookie season, he’s one of the most exciting rookies of 2020 and he looks a perfect fit for the 49ers defense.

Taken all together, Kinlaw is someone for the 49ers fans to be excited about for the 2020 season.