Report: 49ers Forgo Fifth-Year Option On Former Gamecock Javon Kinlaw

Per Ian Rapoport, the San Francisco 49ers have declined the fifth-year option on the rookie deal of former South Carolina Football star Javon Kinlaw.

Since the years Steve Spurrier roamed the sideline in Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina's Football program has developed several premiere defensive line prospects for the next level, with Palmetto State native Zacch Pickens being the latest example. One of the great stories from the Will Muschamp Tenure was the rise of Javon Kinlaw, who overcame great odds in his adolescence and through the Gamecocks on and off-field coaching became one of the best game-wrecking defensive tackles in college football.

This lead to Kinlaw being the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, being selected by the San Francisco 49ers. While Javon impressed in his rookie season, leading to the Pro Football Writers of America naming him to their all-rookie team, he's dealt with a plethora of injuries over the past couple of seasons, which have stalled further development from taking place. 

Unfortunately in the NFL, front offices make business decisions that more often than not aren't based on emotion or sympathy, and that was the case on Saturday morning, as NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers won't be picking up Javon Kinlaw's fifth-year option, making this upcoming season effectively a contract year. While this certainly isn't the end of Kinlaw's time in the City by the Bay, and plenty of players in this situation have bounced back, 2023 will be a pivotal year that could decide the future trajectory of Javon's professional career, both from a longevity and financial standpoint.

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