Why 49ers’ Kinlaw could be coveted player in NFL free agency

SANTA CLARA — Javon Kinlaw entered the 2023 season with a lot of uncertainty about his NFL future. But the defensive tackle is putting himself in position to be a sought-after free agent after the 49ers declined to pick up his fifth-year option in the offseason. "Yeah, no doubt about it," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. "Everyone around the league knows the talent he was coming out of college." The talent was so great the 49ers selected him with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, using the selection acquired when the team traded DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts. Kinlaw was expected to replace Buckner, one of the team's leaders and most consistent performers. Instead, Kinlaw's first three seasons were plagued by knee injuries that limited him to just 10 games the past two campaigns. Finally, the knee situation was solved, resulting in reconstructive surgery. And for the first time in his career, Kinlaw has not missed any practice time or game action this season. "It becomes a question of not how good can he get, but whether he can even play or not," Shanahan said. "What he did this whole offseason was as big of a commitment as anyone as I've ever been...