Javon Kinlaw won't be expected to come in and immediately replace the productivity of Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, especially considering that concerns over the coronavirus pandemic have severely limited NFL offseason. Buckner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts when it became clear that the San Francisco 49ers weren't going to be able to lock him up to a long-term deal.
They were able to sign defensive lineman Arik Armstead to a contract extension, though. Shortly after re-signing him, news of the Buckner trade broke.
Armstead spoke with reporters via a video conference call on Wednesday, and, as he stated in April, he said the trade of Buckner came as a shock. The plan to deal Buckner had been in the works since after the Super Bowl, and his agent was permitted to speak with other teams about getting the contract his client deserved. He had to come back with a nice draft pick as compensation, though.
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That ended up being the No. 13 overall pick.
With Buckner gone, Armstead plans to mentor his new rookie teammate, Kinlaw, as he transitions from the college game to the pros.
"Every guy is unique and different in his own right," Armstead said when asked about Kinlaw replacing Buckner. "Javon is going to have his own career. But looking at him in the limited stuff I've seen, he's extremely talented, athletic, strong. He's going to add a lot to our team, and I'm excited for when we all get back together, all of us starting that journey, to help bring him along and get him up to speed, being a leader, and guiding him through his career, especially in these early stages.
"I'm trying to help him any way I can, so I'm excited about the opportunity to play with him and being able to—we all have common goals—and go out there and play together, and start that journey, whenever that happens."
Armstead knows that replacing his former teammate and close friend, Buckner, will have to be a group effort.
"Losing DeFo, he's an irreplaceable player, a leader, a staple within our organization," Armstead said. "There's going to be a void there that not just one person is going to be able to fill. It's going to be a team effort, especially our unit. In our defensive line, we're all going to have to pick it up to help fill that void.
"I think we're up for it. I think we have a great group of guys, and we have a great team. I don't feel like we were reliant on just three guys throughout the year. ... It was a group effort. Guys, at their own times, stepped in to make plays in the entirety of the roster.
"I think we're built the right way to adjust to something like this, and, moving forward, I expect me and a whole host of my teammates stepping up in leadership ways on the field, making plays, and filling that void."
The 49ers in March signed Armstead to a five-year deal worth up to $85 million. He played on his fifth-year option in 2019 and was scheduled to become a free agent before re-signing with San Francisco.
The 49ers made Armstead the No. 17 overall selection in 2015 after playing college football at Oregon. He registered 54 combined tackles, a career-high and team-leading 10 sacks, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles through 16 starts last season.