The 49ers are ecstatic they were able to add Javon Kinlaw to their already-dominant defensive line in the middle of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night. He fits what they want to do, and fills the hole created by trading DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts.
"We just found a guy that we thought was perfect for the way we play," San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Thursday on KNBR's "Mark Willard Show." "A really, really nice fit, so we pulled the trigger on Javon."
Coach Kyle Shanahan echoed Lynch's sentiments, as the offensive mastermind knows a dominant defense is a play-caller's best friend. As excited as Shanahan might be though, apparently it pales in comparison to how elated defensive line coach Kris Kocurek is.
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"Do you know what the last five weeks have been like for us? Coach Kocurek is stuck in his house, and he's spending every day with his wife and his newborn," Shanahan said. "So all he's doing right now is changing diapers or watching Kinlaw.
"[Kocurek] sends us pictures of him every day, and I have to keep asking, 'Are you watching anyone else?' He's like, 'No, this is the guy.' So for it to get there, I know he's as excited as anyone."
[RELATED: Deebo apparently told Kinlaw that 49ers would draft him]
While Kinlaw is a tremendous defensive tackle prospect as is, Shanahan sees it as an ideal pairing of player and position coach.
San Francisco 49ers
"He's as good of a D-line coach as there is and we got him a guy to pair with him that is perfect," he said.
Losing Buckner surely was a big blow to Kocurek, but it appears he has found a way to get over the disappointment rather quickly.
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