Pro Football Focus analyst Anthony Treash named six rookies from the 2020 NFL Draft class who appear set to have break-out seasons in 2021. Among players like quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, the No. 14 overall pick from a year ago.
Kinlaw compiled 33 tackles, three tackles for a loss, four quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, an interception, touchdown, and four passes defensed during his rookie campaign.
"Kinlaw was unproductive, plain and simple," wrote Treash. "He lacked consistency both in run defense (46.9 grade) and pass rushing (58.0 grade), leading to an overall PFF grade that ranked 85th among 111 qualifying interior defensive linemen (54.1)."
The analyst admits that the lack of production wasn't unexpected.
"Kinlaw won as much as he did at South Carolina because of his height, length, overall athleticism, get-off, and bull rush," explained Treash. "He still had a long way to go with his pass-rush toolbox and hand placement, which was evident in 2020."
What does a break-out season mean for Kinlaw? It means improvement but not necessarily a jump to an elite level. The defender's ability to create a pass rush needed to improve coming out of college, and the pandemic limited the amount of offseason work Kinlaw received with his new coaches. He wasn't even able to get on the practice field for the first time until August.
"I haven't really scratched the surface with my pass rush," Kinlaw told Treash at last year's NFL Scouting Combine. "A lot of the times, I just be out there bull-rushing — just walking guys back. So, I feel like once I get the right coaching, the sky's the limit."
Treash believes that Kinlaw will benefit from another year with the 49ers coaching staff. That is especially true if players can find a way to get back on the practice field before training camp. Kinlaw showed enough in 2020 to create some excitement inside the building surrounding the defensive lineman's NFL future.
"He wants to be great," general manager John Lynch recently said. "He's willing to put forth the effort to be great and do the things necessary. ... I think the arrow is up for Javon, and we're very excited about moving forward with him."
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