Peter King: 49ers are desperate for a space-eating DT who can threaten the pocket

We talked about South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw quite a bit over the weekend. Alex did a nice job breaking down the prospect, and we had him in a PFF mock, as well as SB Nation’s writer’s mock draft. Peter King did his mock draft a week away from the draft based on what his sources are telling him. Here is what he had to say about the San Francisco 49ers:

Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. Another defensive lineman in the first round?!! This sounds crazy, and maybe it is, after all the first-round defensive-line capital the Niners have used up. (Consider Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas, Nick Bosa in the last five drafts.) But I hear the Niners are desperate for a space-eating defensive tackle who can threaten the pocket, and that’s what the 315-pound and athletic Kinlaw does.

Yes, another defensive lineman in the first round. Kinlaw provides the best value in the first round, in my opinion. That’s no matter who is on the board. He’s that good. In King’s scenario, only Oklahoma’s wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is off the board by pick No. 13. This would suggest the 49ers trading back from pick No. 31 and drafting a wide receiver in the second round and possibly another receiver later on in the draft. This isn’t the first or last time we’ve said this, but the drop-off at receiver isn’t that steep. You have two studs at the top, and then it’s about preference after Lamb and Jerry Jeudy.

Also, get ready for a bunch of rumors. By this time next week, we could hear, “the 49ers are all in on a cornerback.” Kinlaw isn’t a “sexy” pick, and I’m sure a lot of fans will be disappointed at first, but general manager John Lynch made it clear last offseason that we wanted to build the team through its defensive line. Kinlaw helps keep San Francisco’s dominant defensive line intact.