Critics may have woken the beast in Commanders' prized free-agent signing

The time for talk is mercifully over for those who believe the Washington Commanders overpaid to secure Javon Kinlaw's services. It's now up to the defensive tackle to ensure this criticism doesn't come back.

Washington identified Kinlaw as a high-priority target in free agency. Adam Peters knew the player well, having been part of the San Francisco 49ers front office that selected him at No. 14 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. But getting in early meant paying arguably above the going rate.

The Commanders gave Kinlaw a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. That was on the high side. It was also much more than almost everyone anticipated he'd receive after one underwhelming season with the New York Jets.

It would have been hard for Kinlaw to ignore the ridicule and criticism. There was too much of that to go around, but it may have woken the beast within based on his steely determination since joining the franchise.

Javon Kinlaw wants to repay Commanders' faith after perceived free agency overpay

Kinlaw's not interested in what other people have to say. He knows everyone in the Commanders believes in him, and they see the gradual growth. Now, it's all about putting in the hard yards to take his game to new heights on a championship contender.

These people, they believe in me over here. They see the progression. Every year, I'm looking to get better. Every year, I've gotten better. I'm gonna continue to get better, and I'm just happy that it's here that I get to showcase that.Javon Kinlaw via Commanders.com

The former South Carolina standout won't be lacking in motivation. Kinlaw has a lofty price tag to meet, and he's also stepping into Pro Bowler Jonathan Allen's shoes. That's a daunting task, but one the interior lineman is ready for.

Kinlaw is a physically dominant figure at the peak of his powers. He's a formidable presence to move off the block with enough athleticism to play outside if needed. Expect the Commanders to move him around in pursuit of exploiting mismatches, especially considering Daron Payne and Johnny Newton are also capable of logging substantial reps.

Washington has faith in Kinlaw. They probably had more of that than almost any other NFL team. It was a big risk for Peters, but the front-office leader thinks it'll be money well spent in the end.

This must be repaid. If that happens, nobody will be talking about what sort of money it took to bring Kinlaw into the fold.

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