One of the more surprising signings to open up the legal tampering period involved former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw. Kinlaw, who spent the 2024 season with the New York Jets, was shockingly signed to a three-year, $45 million contract by the Washington Commanders.
Kinlaw also reportedly got $30 million guaranteed, which caught many off guard as he was okay with the Jets last season. The former 49ers’ first-round pick will be reunited with Commanders general manager Adam Peters, who was in San Francisco when Kinlaw was drafted in 2020.
However, the connections between Kinlaw and the Commanders don’t stop there. According to John Keim of ESPN, Washington defensive line coach Darryl Tapp was with Kinlaw in SF. Tapp was the assistant DL coach for three seasons with the 49ers.
49ers fans will tell you that Kinlaw’s tenure in San Francisco was not memorable. He only had 70 combined tackles, 11 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and an interception (returned for a defensive touchdown).
After playing 14 games as a rookie, Kinlaw only played 10 combined games over the next two years due to a torn ACL in 2021, which gave him problems in 2022. Then in 2023, the former first-round pick suited up in all 17 games (six starts), which was his “best” year with the 49ers.
Kinlaw had 25 combined tackles, six quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. That said, the Commanders hope Kinlaw can live up to his first-round status being reunited with two guys who know him the best.
However, it’s hard to believe that Kinlaw will immediately play like a game-wrecker in the middle of the defensive line as a starter next to Daron Payne. Last season with the Jets, Kinlaw did an adequate job rushing the passer (68.2 grade on PFF), but was abhorrent in stopping the run (50.8 grade – 116th among 219 qualified 219 defensive linemen).
Nevertheless, we’ll see if Peters is right about taking a gamble on another former 49er this offseason.