The Washington Commanders have agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract that includes $30 million in guarantees with interior defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The former San Francisco 49ers first-round pick spent the most recent season with the New York Jets, where he had the most productive season of his career. After playing for Robert Saleh in New York, Kinlaw now reconnects with another 49ers connection, Commanders general manager (and 49ers longtime assistant general manager) Adam Peters.

The 49ers selected Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, hoping he could help replace DeForrest Buckner, who the team had traded to the Colts for a first-round pick earlier in the offseason. While Kinlaw often had flashes of dominance along the interior defensive line in San Francisco, seemingly constant injury issues always seemed to prevent him from developing into a true impact player.

Kinlaw’s health has trended in the right direction in recent seasons. After playing in all 20 of the 49ers games in run to the Super Bowl in 2023, making six starts in the process, Kinlaw departed in free agency and joined the Jets. In New York, Kinlaw was a key piece of their defensive line, starting all 17 of the team’s games. He recorded 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery—all career highs.

Coming off that career year, Kinlaw seemed poised to secure a solid multi-year deal, but it’s still surprising to see him land such a sizable deal with significant guarantees. Nevertheless, he will head to D.C., where he is clearly expected to replace recently released Jonathan Allen. That will bring some high expectations.

By the way, if there’s one surefire takeaway from this deal, it sure seems like Peters was one of Kinlaw’s biggest champions within San Francisco’s front office.