Javon Kinlaw is in unfamiliar territory as he prepares to enter the next phase of his career with the Washington Commanders. He is in a new system with different teammates on a team that is fresh off a conference championship run.
But not everything is completely foreign to Kinlaw. He was brought to the DMV by Adam Peters, who was part of the San Francisco 49ers front office that drafted him, and reunited with defensive line coach Darryl Tapp -- a former member of the 49ers' coaching staff that has deep knowledge of his skill set and how to get the most out of him.
The Commanders and Kinlaw believe that relationship will help elevate both his game and the entire defense.
"Coming from a guy who actually knows me pretty well, even outside of the game of football, it's always a beautiful thing," Kinlaw said. "He knows what he's getting when it comes to me. I'm excited, for sure, because he brings a lot of energy."
Kinlaw, who was taken 14th overall by the 49ers in 2020, was plagued by injuries at the start of his career. A promising rookie campaign was followed up by being placed on Injured Reserve in back-to-back seasons, limiting him to just 10 games in that span. Kinlaw missed out on time to develop, and the 49ers elected to decline his fifth-year option.
Tapp, who was hired by the 49ers as an assistant defensive line coach in 2021, finally got to work with a fully healthy version of Kinlaw ahead of the 2023 season. Although the 49ers chose not to re-sign Kinlaw, he did have his best performance with the team, recording 25 tackles and six quarterback hits. He got his first sack in nearly three years and ended up with a then career-high of 3.5 sacks.
Tapp said Kinlaw was "a puppy" when they first started working together. Now, while Kinlaw still has room to grow, he's a more confident player who can both stop the run and pressure quarterbacks as an interior defender.
"He's doing a lot of big things and really come into his own as far as his play style," Tapp said.
Kinlaw said "it was pretty much an easy decision" for him to sign with the Commanders, partially because of the relationship he has with Tapp. He's a fan of how Tapp coaches his players, meaning that he uses a lot of energy, and appreciates the time and effort he puts into making sure they succeed.
"That's what you need on them dog days," Kinlaw said. "You need someone that's gonna help you out."
It also helps that Tapp, Peters and his new coaches believe in him as well as what he can bring to a defense. Head coach Dan Quinn and Peters believe that Kinlaw is an ascending player, and that kind of gambling has worked out for them in the past. They signed Frankie Luvu and Dorance Armstrong with the same belief and both players ended up as starters with career performances. Given Tapp and Peters' experience with Kinlaw, plus Quinn's experience working with defensive linemen, the Commanders are confident this investment will work out, too.
"These people, they believe in me over here," Kinlaw said. "They see the progression. Every year, I'm looking to get better. Every year, I've gotten better. I'm gonna continue to get better, and I'm just happy that it's here that I get to showcase that."
Click here to secure your tickets to the Commanders' 2025 season.
