A thorough review of Javon Kinlaw’s film only raises more question marks
The New York Jets have enjoyed a critically acclaimed 2024 offseason. Nearly all of the team’s free agent and draft moves were widely praised by fans and media alike.
But if there’s one move that was met with general skepticism, it was the signing of former 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
In a vacuum, adding Kinlaw wasn’t surprising. He comes from a similar scheme in San Francisco and has ties to Robert Saleh. It was easy to connect the dots and identify him as a potential target for the team’s defensive tackle rotation.
However, the skepticism comes from his contract and how it compares to the player he’s replacing. The Jets signed Kinlaw to a one-year, $7.25 million deal, which was a surprising number for a player who has five sacks in four NFL seasons and is not known for his run defense. It was especially shocking in comparison to former Jets defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, who signed with Cleveland for just $4 million (one year) despite beating out Kinlaw in just about every statistical category last season.
Considering his contract, it’s clear the Jets are expecting Kinlaw to step in and replace Jefferson as the Jets’ DT2 behind Quinnen Williams. Jefferson did a nice job in the role last season, but on paper, Kinlaw is clearly an inferior player. Despite playing three fewer games and 182 fewer pass-rush snaps than Kinlaw, Jefferson had 2.5 more sacks and seven more quarterback hits.
Are the stats correct in saying the Jets will experience a downgrade from Jefferson to Kinlaw? Or do the Jets know something that the people up here don’t?
Based on his film, the former seems more likely. After watching the film of every game Kinlaw played in 2023, more questions arise than answers. In my notes, I listed over twice as many weaknesses as strengths.
In the latest Blewett’s Blitz film review, we break down 33 plays of Kinlaw’s 2023 season, showcasing a full synopsis of what he does well and where he struggles. Plus, the full list of Kinlaw’s strengths and weaknesses can be found at the bottom of the page.
The FULL, member-only Javon Kinlaw film breakdown (33 plays) can be found beneath the YouTube snippet (must be a Jets X-Factor member and logged into the site).
Member-only Javon Kinlaw film breakdown + scouting report
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