The San Francisco 49ers have signed rookie defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport notes that Kinlaw was one of only a few rookies to sign a four-year deal with a fifth-year option this offseason.
The 49ers took Kinlaw, who played his collegiate football at the University of South Carolina, with the 14th overall pick of the NFL Draft back in late April. San Francisco's decision to take Kinlaw came shortly after the club traded fellow defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts.
Kinlaw spent three seasons at South Carolina, arriving in 2017. He had a limited role during his freshman campaign, logging 17 tackles, a couple of tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
The following year, Kinlaw began to receive more playing time, as he registered 30 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and five passes defended. He went on post similar numbers during his junior year, finishing with 35 tackles, six tackles for loss, six sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Kinlaw will join a dominant Niners defensive front that also includes Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa, the former of which just re-signed with the club on a lucrative long-term contract.
The 49ers were a rather big surprise this past season, winning 13 games, capturing the NFC West division title and locking down the No. 1 overall seed in the conference. San Francisco proceeded to make it all the way to the Super Bowl, where the team actually built a 10-point second-half lead before blowing it in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
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