Kevin King, welcome to the NFL. The cornerback arrived in Philadelphia, hoping to shake commissioner Roger Goodell's hand after hearing his name called in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. It took a day longer than anticipated, as the first round came and went without him being drafted. He got his moment in the second round, though, as the Green Bay Packers selected him with the first pick of the second round on Friday night.
The draft pick
Prior to ending his lengthy wait, King made his intentions clear with a tweet about joining his mom and dad for the big moment.
He didn't have to wait much longer to take the stage. The Packers got it out of the way with the first pick on Friday, one of several Washington Huskies defensive backs who were set to be taken on the night. He's arguably the best of that bunch, though.
In King, the Packers are getting one of the best young cornerbacks in the draft. He's tall and speedy, with good ball skills. Last season, he didn't allow a single touchdown. He's athletic, as he proved at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his tape sometimes betrays him. Speaking to the NFL Network after being selected, King singled himself out as a leader, a playmaker, and somebody the organization could put its faith in.
Analyzing the fit
His frame and athleticism have people comparing him to some of the best cornerbacks in the NFL right now: Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
He has the ability to be a top cornerback in the NFL if his physical measurements display more than just potential one day. He struggles to keep receivers in front of him, though, much like former Packers cornerback Sam Shields. Still, King will be relied on quickly.
The Packers had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL last season.
It only stands to be worse next season, as Micah Hyde departed for the Buffalo Bills during free agency. King will likely be forced into the starting lineup early in the season, despite the presence of Davon House in the backfield. In a division with at least one strong quarterback (Matthew Stafford) and one decent quarterback (Sam Bradford), the learning curve will need to be quick for the rookie cornerback.
Time will tell whether he will turn out better than his schoolmates - Sidney Jones and Budda Baker - or fail to help Green Bay make it back to the Super Bowl in the waining years of Aaron Rodgers' prime.
