2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 interior defensive linemen

2. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

Few players in the country have improved their draft stock as much as South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw has this season.

Kinlaw looked like a man possessed through the first few games of the year, tallying 5 sacks through the first six games, including sacks against both Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm. While he has cooled off a little bit of late, he has still been incredibly disruptive and is the driving force behind the Gamecocks defense.

He’s got ideal length, is quick out of his stance and has heavy hands at the point of attack that keeps guards and centers feet moving backward consistently.

Kinlaw has an imposing build and that body type should allow him to lineup everywhere on the line for 4-3 teams and he is an ideal fit for a 5-technique in a 3-4. That versatility is evident when you watch him play, as he is able to use a blend of power and finesse to make plays from several different alignments on that South Carolina front.

I expect Kinlaw to be a first-round selection come April and that should be a lock after he showcases his freak athlete status at the combine. While he comes in at number two on this top ten interior defensive linemen of the 2020 NFL Draft list, he could top some lists as we get closer to the festivities.