The San Francisco selected South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft on Thursday evening.
Kinlaw (6-5, 324 pounds) did not participate in the combine because of a knee injury and South Carolina’s pro day was canceled so he didn’t get a chance to show off his speed and strength for scouts this offseason.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein still came away impressed with Kinlaw, comparing him to Michael Brockers, who was a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
“He can be a disruptive force along the interior with that explosive first step and freaky physical gifts,” Zierlein wrote of Kinlaw on NFL.com before the draft.
During his three seasons with the Gamecocks, Kinlaw totaled 82 tackles — including 17 tackles for losses — and 10 sacks. Kinlaw also broke up eight passes, recovered four fumbles and forced three fumbles.
Kinlaw was the second-best interior defensive lineman in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s rankings on Draft Wire. Auburn’s Derrick Brown was the only interior defensive lineman ranked higher than Kinlaw.
