No free agent deal signed this offseason shocked scouts, fans, and executives around the league more than the three-year deal the Washington Commanders gave to Javon Kinlaw worth over $45 million.
The former first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers has never played up to his talent, and struggled mightily in his lone season with the New York Jets.
In five NFL seasons, Kinlaw has recorded 9.5 sacks. Not exactly the type of numbers worthy of a $15 million-a-year average. Despite that, Commanders general manager Adam Peters made it clear he was excited with how Kinlaw could look in the team's defense.
"He's explosive," Peters said at league meetings last week. "He's a tone-setter. He's physical. He can line up across the line."
Kinlaw has battled injuries throughout his early career and did put up a career-high 4.5 sacks last season in New York. On a defensive line led by Daron Payne, the Commanders could look to use him in more of a role to get more out of him.
"To his credit, he fought through and came back even better, which was really impressive," Peters said. "And how much he played two years ago in San Francisco and how much he played last year, those are like his first two years, in essence. And he's got the hunger to get better and better. We like that just as much as anything about him."
Kinlaw is an obvious gamble by the front office that earned plenty of cache during their successful first season last year. If it works out, Kinlaw's $15 million a year price tag could be seen as a bargain.
That's a big "if" though.
