What Mel Kiper thinks about South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has watched his share of tape of former South Carolina star Javon Kinlaw ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he views the defensive tackle as one of the top players in this year’s draft.
Kiper has Kinlaw being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 9 overall pick in his latest mock draft and doesn’t expect Kinlaw to slide out of the top 20.
What makes Kinlaw so good?
“He moves really well for a guy that obviously is going to be an interior presence,” Kiper said this week on a conference call with media members. “He’s got tremendous athleticism. I think that’s what people want more so than any other time in football as we know, it is the interior pressure and a guy who has the versatility.”
Kinlaw was a first-team All-American as a senior for the Gamecocks after recording 35 tackles, six sacks, four quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick in 2019.
Kiper has Kinlaw as the second best defensive tackle in the draft, behind only Derrick Brown out of Auburn.
Kinlaw played well against some of the top competition in the country this past season, combining for 16 tackles and two sacks in games against top 10 teams Clemson, Florida, Alabama and Georgia. The Charleston native played a big role in South Carolina’s upset of the Bulldogs, living in the backfield and creating havoc.
“Kinlaw is a guy who obviously produced against the highest level of competition,” Kiper said. “His tape is really good. I think he’ll benefit obviously as he keeps improving with NFL coaching.”
If Kinlaw doesn’t go to the Jaguars at No. 9, where might he land?
“In terms of how far he could go down, maybe as low as 17 to Dallas, and I don’t see him getting past the Cowboys at that point,” Kiper said. “So I think the range for Kinlaw would be 9 to 17... he’s solidly the No. 2 tackle. He’s not that far off in terms of grade for me. It’s a slight edge. Right now I have Brown at 6 on the big board and Kinlaw at 14.”
