SF 49ers: Rookie report-card grades after first quarter of 2020
By Peter Panacy
Round 1: SF 49ers Defensive Tackle Javon Kinlaw
B+. . Defensive Tackle. San Francisco 49ers. JAVON KINLAW
Despite somewhat of a sluggish start in training camp, Javon Kinlaw has quickly shown he can be a dominant force in the NFL. True, Kinlaw hasn’t burst onto the scene like the SF 49ers’ previous first-round NFL Draft pick, EDGE Nick Bosa. But few players ever reach that kind of caliber right out of the gate.
What’s good news for the Niners is Kinlaw is already starting to make the offseason trade of Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner much more bearable.
Kinlaw’s traditional stats don’t look overly imposing: nine tackles, two passes batted down and one quarterback hit. And that’s the primary reason why he receives a B-plus grade here instead of getting into the A-range, which would indicate he’s regularly getting to opposing quarterbacks and taking down ball-carriers in the backfield with ease.
Still, Kinlaw’s impact as a blocker-eating defensive lineman are starting to show. Per Pro Football Focus, the former South Carolina Gamecock has a solid 69.7 overall grade, which puts him 36th among all qualifying interior defenders.
Not bad for a first-year player who didn’t have the bonus of rookie minicamps, organized team activities or a preseason to better acclimate himself to the pro ranks.