Javon Kinlaw is a Washington Commanders defensive tackle who entered the NFL as a first-round pick out of South Carolina.
Kinlaw was a first-round selection by San Francisco in 2020 after a standout run at South Carolina. He signed a three-year deal with Washington in March 2025. His first season in Washington drew heavy criticism for falling short of the contract's price tag.
Path to the league
Kinlaw played college football at Jones County Junior College before transferring to South Carolina, where he developed into a disruptive interior lineman. San Francisco drafted him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He later spent time with the New York Jets before signing in Washington.
2025 season
Kinlaw signed a three-year contract with Washington worth up to $45 million with $30 million guaranteed in March 2025. He started 17 games but recorded 43 tackles, no sacks and five tackles for loss, per coverage of his season. Pro Football Focus singled out the deal as the league's worst free-agent signing of the cycle.
Sources
- Commanders.com: Commanders sign DT Javon Kinlaw
- ESPN: Javon Kinlaw player page
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | commanders | 17 | 43 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | jets | 17 | 40 | 27 | 4.5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 49ers | 17 | 25 | 13 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2022 | 49ers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 49ers | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 49ers | 14 | 33 | 15 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- South Carolina
- Hometown
- Charleston, SC, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
