NFL draft scouting is far from an exact science. Every year after the most recent draft, media outlets and their analysts often put out a “way-too-early” mock draft, typically filled with the expected top players in the next draft. Those mocks almost always end up looking predictably terrible, with so much information not being known so early on.
Penn State cornerback [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag] is a great example of the potential range of outcomes. King was a staple in most first-round mocks heading into the 2023 season after a stellar 2022 campaign. Unfortunately for King, his 2023 season completely derailed his draft stock, and his performance at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine only added to his fall.
The Green Bay Packers ultimately selected him 255th overall in the 2024 NFL draft, just two picks away from being undrafted. Even with all the negativity surrounding his play over the past calendar year, King has the opportunity to change the narrative now that he has an NFL landing spot.
The Packers in particular are a great landing spot for someone like King. They are lacking depth at both outside corner and slot defender, and I have made the argument before that King may benefit from a move to the slot at the next level.
No matter where the Packers’ coaching staff decides to develop him, he should have a good chance to make the 53-man roster even as a late-round pick. Most of the backups currently on the Packers roster are either recent late-round picks or journeyman veterans. Even if it’s been over a year since he showed it, King has obvious talent that could shine through in the right environment.
If King doesn’t end up finding a role on the Packers’ defense, it will likely be his lack of speed that holds him back. He tested as an average overall athlete, but he lacks any standout traits. He was much more effective coming downhill than running with receivers down the field, which is a big reason why a move inside to the slot still makes a ton of sense.
Kalen King was drafted in round 7 pick 255 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 6.68 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 821 out of 2472 CB from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/JSHcVddhCB pic.twitter.com/6I8BMgCrsz
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2024
The bottom line for King is that he has been given a chance to make all his doubters wrong. The Packers are not afraid to play the best player over veterans and high draft picks if they outperform them. If he shows any flashes of the play that made people mock him in the first round, he will get his chance to contribute on defense for the Pack.
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