2017 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Kevin King, CB, Washington

The secondary was the strength of the New York Giants’ vastly improved defense in 2016.

But with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie aging and backed up by free agents Coty Sensabaugh and Trevin Wade, the Giants do have a below-the-radar need at the corner position. It isn’t anywhere near as pressing as some of their other needs, but it is there.

But after signing Janoris Jenkins to a top-flight contract and drafting Eli Apple in the first round of the 2016 draft, could they really afford to select another corner highly in the 2017 draft?

If they decide that they must, they could look to Washington’s Kevin King, a long, athletic corner who is almost eerily like DRC.

Measurables

Pros

• Rare length for the position at 6’3”,
• Impressive movement skills and not just for his size.
• Loose hips and quick feet let him stick to receivers in coverage or break on the ball quickly
• Willing hitter in space and in the run game
• Has the speed to run with most receivers and an impressive closing burst.
• Uses the sideline to his advantage in coverage.
• Competitive player.

Cons

• Long frame is also lanky. Might need to add some muscle at the next level
• Willing hitter, but an inconsistent tackler. Often opts to go low and shoulder check offensive players rather than deliver a form tackle
• Light frame might limit him to off-man or zone coverage at the next level. Bigger receivers could bully him in press coverage
• Doesn’t produce many turnovers. Just 6 interceptions in 4 years at Washinton

Does He Fit With The Giants?

The Giants have a fairly unique situation of making this a two-part question for any defensive back.

Does Kevin King fit the Giants? I’m going to say “maybe”. Steve Spagnuolo likes physical defensive backs who show no hesitation to disrupt at the line of scrimmage, battle at the catch point, and hit ball carriers. King definitely shows the latter two traits, but he struggles to get physical at the line of scrimmage. Much like a younger Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, King is better in off-man coverage, using his incredible length, quickness, and burst to slam windows shut after baiting passers into throwing. If he can’t become a press corner, however, the Giants are unlikely to take him.

Does he have a place on the Giants? Given that the Giants would likely have to invest the 23rd overall pick in him, I’ll say that no, he doesn’t have a place on the Giants. While the Giants could use an understudy for DRC, the New York secondary is loaded with talent. That makes adding players with a premium pick an unwise allocation of resources.

Prospect Video

Big Board Rankings

Big Blue View - 45th overall

CBS Sports - 55th overall

Draft Countdown - 80th overall

Draft Tek - 53rd overall

Final Thoughts

Right now King is being ranked as a second round pick. However, he will be a player who rises throughout the remainder of the draft process. He is one of the slimmest entrants into the “Dancing Elephants” theory of drafting. It goes: There are only so many “Dancing Elephants” (ie: players with exceptional size and movement skills) in the world. They need to be drafted highly.

King is a very skinny “dancing elephant”. What makes DRC and Eli Apple special is that there have only been 4 corners drafted since 2006 who are 6’1” and 200+ pounds who run sub-4.40s 40 yard dashes. Those guys are RARE.

At 6’3”, running a 4.43sec 40, and quickness rivaling Odell Beckham Jr. Kevin King falls into that same category. He has been overshadowed by Sidney Jones, but he is a talented cover corner in his own right, and he won’t have to wait too long to hear his name called.