The San Francisco 49ers have a tough decision to make when it comes to their fifth-year option for defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. The 2020 first-round pick has yet to live up to the expectations of a first-round pick, and the 49ers may be hesitant to pick up the option.<\/p>\n
Kinlaw was taken with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the expectations were high for the former South Carolina Gamecock. He was expected to come in and make an immediate impact on the defensive line, but that has yet to happen. In his rookie season, Kinlaw recorded just 24 tackles and one sack in 12 games. He has yet to record a sack in 2021, and his production has been far from what the 49ers had hoped for when they drafted him.<\/p>\n
The 49ers have until May 3 to decide whether or not to pick up Kinlaw\u2019s fifth-year option. If they do, it would keep him under contract through the 2022 season. However, it\u2019s unlikely that the 49ers will pick up the option due to Kinlaw\u2019s lack of production thus far.<\/p>\n
The 49ers may be hesitant to pick up the option due to the team\u2019s salary cap situation. The team is already close to the salary cap limit, and picking up Kinlaw\u2019s option could push them over the limit. The team could also choose to re-sign Kinlaw to a cheaper deal if they decide not to pick up the option.<\/p>\n
Kinlaw still has time to turn things around and prove that he was worth the first-round pick. However, it appears unlikely that the 49ers will pick up his fifth-year option. The team has a tough decision to make, and it will be interesting to see what they decide to do.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The San Francisco 49ers have a tough decision to make when it comes to their fifth-year option for defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. The 2020 first-round pick has yet to live up to the expectations of a first-round pick, and the 49ers may be hesitant to pick up the option. Kinlaw was taken with the 14th …<\/p>\n