Javon Kinlaw knows where he can be better, and he’s put in the work to get it done
One of the best traits a professional athlete can have is the ability to self-scout with honesty. To become the best versions of themselves, players must confront their flaws and be willing to work on them.
New York Jets defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw displayed some admirable self-awareness while speaking to the media after Monday’s training camp practice. After stating he had reached his goal of adding 35 pounds of lean muscle mass this offseason, Kinlaw described the on-field incentives behind the effort.
“Just staying on them double teams,” Kinlaw answered when asked how the added muscle can help him during the season. “I felt like last year, I was getting moved a little bit, probably just because I just didn’t have enough muscle. But when I take on these blocks out here, I just feel way more sturdy.”
Javon Kinlaw says that he reached his goal of adding 35 pounds of lean muscle mass this offseason: pic.twitter.com/IlI7oP8zoS
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) July 29, 2024
Kinlaw, 26, joined the Jets on a one-year, $7.25 million contract this offseason. The 2020 first-round pick struggled to gain his footing over his first three seasons, largely due to injuries, as he played only 24 games through 2022. Kinlaw had his first fully healthy season in 2023 and enjoyed the best season of his career, posting career-bests of 3.5 sacks and 31 total pressures. Both totals exceeded his output from his first three seasons combined.
Kinlaw is an explosive athlete who fits seamlessly in the Jets defense’s aggressive 4-3 front; after all, he was drafted by San Francisco while now-Jets head coach Robert Saleh was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. However, stopping the run has been an issue for Kinlaw throughout his career, including in 2023.
While Kinlaw’s pass rushing reached new heights last year, he still earned a 31.3 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, ranked 88th out of 92 qualified defensive tackles (min. 400 snaps). Joe Blewett’s film review corroborated PFF’s conclusion, as it was apparent that Kinlaw struggled to hold his own against double teams.
It’s encouraging to see that Kinlaw is aware of the main hole in his game and has worked extremely hard to improve in that area. If he can complement his explosiveness with a newfound sturdiness in the run game, he could form an outstanding duo on the interior alongside Quinnen Williams.
Jets defensive tackle coordinator Jeff Ulbrich recently raved about Kinlaw, saying, “The NFL does not know who this man can be, and he’s about to show the entire world exactly who he is. In my opinion, that’s a top D-tackle in this league.” Now that we know about Kinlaw’s offseason transformation, it’s easy to see where Ulbrich’s optimism is coming from.
The Jets have done a fantastic job of maximizing overlooked defensive talent throughout the Ulbrich/Saleh era. They turned moldable players like Quincy Williams, Bryce Huff, John Franklin-Myers, and Michael Carter II into big-time contributors despite none of those players garnering much fanfare when they were acquired. Perhaps they’re about to do it again with Kinlaw.
