© Andrew Nelles | 2019 Dec 31
The 49ers got a steal in Javon Kinlaw according to 49ers radio broadcaster Tim Ryan.
Ryan hopped on with Papa & Lund on Friday morning and said that if the coronavirus had not affected the offseason — leading to no in person visits with players — Kinlaw likely would’ve been a top five pick.
“I think this is obviously a plug and play guy and that’s why they made that move,” Ryan began. “This is speculation but just some things I’ve read and I’ve talked to a couple people that have some knowledge that if it was a normal offseason…because a lot of people didn’t get to hear his story or the medical rechecks and get a chance to hang out with him, from what I understand if they would’ve gotten that info he would’ve been a top five pick.”
Kinlaw’s knee tendinitis flared up at the Senior Bowl limiting him to just two practices and also causing him to miss the Combine. A report before the draft was that several teams who checked him medically flagged him for at risk for arthritic knees.
According to Ryan’s sources, however, the 49ers got a steal.
“I watch the tape. I’ve listened to him, obviously I love his story and how inspirational that is and he’s a battler. But the way he plays, and when you couple that human forklift ability with a nasty attitude where literally the guy between the whistle wants to inflict as much pain on somebody as possible, including the two and three guys trying to block him and he’s just rag dolling them. I love the guy’s mentality.”
Listen to the interview below.