Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh spoke with team reporter Keiana Martin for this week's State of the Franchise event and discussed rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
Saleh offered up his scouting report of the team's first-round pick.
"He's a very large human being," Saleh shared, "very explosive, very powerful, plays with the mindset that we like, a very angry football player. So he possesses the skill set that we look for, especially at the defensive line spot."
As a rookie, Kinlaw will be among the players most impacted by an abnormal offseason limited by the COVID-19 pandemic. Players have yet to meet face-to-face with their coaches. Unlike returning players, though, Kinlaw is trying to pick up a new defense, an NFL-sized playbook, and replace a Pro Bowl defensive tackle.
"It's always going to hurt, from a coach's standpoint, anyway," Saleh said. "Veterans will argue otherwise that not having OTAs and not being able to go through those adjustments, the feel, the first time in the locker room, being able to get all that out of the way so that when he does hit training camp, it's not new to him."
The 49ers made Kinlaw the No. 14 overall pick. The defender racked up 10 sacks in his final two years at South Carolina while adding 65 tackles, 15 for a loss, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries during those seasons.
San Francisco is hoping to get good production out of its rookie to avoid any defensive drop-off. That's a lot of pressure for a player who won't get on the practice field until training camp next month, at the earliest.
Added Saleh: "There is going to be a little adjustment period, but hopefully, he catches on quick and gets rolling."
Steph Sanchez and MLFootball report that the San Francisco 49ers hosted former Georgia safety Javon Bullard on a pre-draft visit yesterday.
🚨EXCLUSIVE: Georgia star safety Javon Bullard had a TOP-30 visit with the San Francisco #49ers yesterday, sources tell @_MLFootball & @Steph49K. Bullard, 21-years-old is a very good athlete and is great in coverage.
On Wednesday, Chat Sports contributor Chase Senior reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers were "aggressively pursuing" San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He further stated that the Steelers are confident they can finalize a deal for the star player.
REPORTS: The Pittsburgh Steelers are aggressively pursuing a Brandon Aiyuk trade and the Steelers would be "surprised" if they don't land Aiyuk. Of note: Pittsburgh has the 20th overall pick. The Niners could look at that as equal value for Aiyuk if they can't get a deal done.…
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
