Prospects for Jags fans to watch: South Carolina DL Javon Kinlaw

The Jags could use some youth on their defensive line and Javon Kinlaw would be a great addition through the draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to have a busy offseason in all probability and a lot will hinge on how they do in the 2020 NFL Draft. They have a plethora of needs and are currently over the cap, which means they may have to address a lot of needs in April as opposed to March when free agency is going on.

Another key part of the offseason for general manager Dave Caldwell will be his decisions on the defensive line which is a unit with needs and one that could have some key departures. Marcell Dareus certainly won’t be back on his current contract although the Jags can re-sign him on cheaper terms and Calais Campbell’s status is up in the air, too, as the Jags could save about $15 million towards the cap by parting ways.

Regardless of what the Jags decide to do with both veterans, they will need to get younger in the defensive trenches. The cheapest way to do that would be through the draft.

When looking at the prospects who could be available, Auburn’s Derrick Brown is the first defensive lineman that comes to mind. However, my comrade Daniel Griffis already has covered him in an article, so I’ll be discussing arguably the next best defensive lineman: South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw.

When evaluating Kinlaw as a prospect, his explosion at the snap immediately stands out. He shoots out of his stance with authority and it especially benefits him on 1-on-1s with guards. Add that with his hand combating skills, which have improved since his junior season, and his high motor and it’s easy to see why Kinlaw was a force in the Southeastern Conference.

As far as strength goes, Kinlaw often shows his power with his bull rush. With a 6-foot-6, 300 plus pound frame, it’s hard for linemen to stop him when he gets to their pads first. Often times he’ll extend his vine-like arms and drive a lineman into the backfield where nothing but bad things can occur for the offense.

Here is a prime example:

Kinlaw is not your normal athlete either, and I’m almost positive it will show at the NFL Combine. Check him out in the clip below against Alabama as he displayed his closing speed on tailback Najee Harris, who made a catch approximately six yards away from Kinlaw. That gap proved to be no big deal for Kinlaw, who closed in on Harris in a matter of seconds.

Kinlaw will be attending the Senior Bowl this month and I believe he’s set to make some money and raise his stock. He should flourish in 1-on-1 drills and receiving NFL coaching for the week should really help him. Based on the last clip and his film, he’ll also impress athletically at the NFL Combine, too.

One issue Kinlaw will have to work on is anchoring against double teams. He’s occasionally washed out of his lane when double-teamed and it often results in a big gain for the opposing rusher. There have also been times where his awareness could be better. Also, there are times where he often relies on his upper-body strength more than his lower-body strength and that won’t fly with the technical lineman in today’s league.

All of his issues can be fixed with the proper NFL coaching, however, and when April arrives I believe he could be a top-15 pick. Without a shadow of a doubt, he’ll receive interest from the Jags and if they continue to use a 4-3, he’s a great fit as a three-technique. If the Jags are running a 3-4, I believe they will need to focus on putting him on the guard while utilizing him as an one gapper.