Javon Kinlaw officially signed himself to a new team on Monday. Joining the New York Jets, the defensive tackle landed a one-year deal worth $7.25 million with $6.9 million guaranteed, per The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov.
The contract details apparently caused a variety of reactions among Jets fans. Many felt that the Jets made the right move by bringing the former San Francisco 49er in.
However, several others weren’t too convinced. A number of tweets lamented how Kinlaw’s deal is an overpay.
Kinlaw’s Jets move stems a year after the 49ers declined his fifth-year contract option. The 2023 season was his fourth and final with San Francisco.
In his last year as a Niner, Kinlaw saw action in 17 games, starting six of them and tallying regular-season totals of 25 combined tackles (13 solo and 12 assisted), 3.5 sacks and three passes defended. During the playoffs, the 26-year-old managed nine tackles (seven solo, two assisted) and a quarterback hit.
The differing opinions on Kinlaw’s contract could stem from how the DT hasn’t been seeing action on the field in the past years. Back in 2020, the 49ers selected Kinlaw as the 14th overall pick in the first round. Coming off a promising rookie year, Kinlaw missed the majority of the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to injuries. He tore his ACL in September of 2021 and hasn’t performed up to expectations ever since.
Regardless, signing with the New York Jets marks a new chapter in Kinlaw’s career. Who knows, with different teammates, a new coach to play under and a change of scenery, maybe a fresh start is just what Javon Kinlaw needs to bounce back.
