The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
A year ago, the Green Bay Packers drafted Kalen King, a cornerback out of Penn State in the seventh round. The year before Brian Gutekunst drafted Sean Clifford, a quarterback from Penn State in the fifth round.
If Gutekunst goes back to Happy Valley again in the 2025 NFL Draft a potential target could be Kobe King, the brother of Kalen. The Penn State linebacker checks in at No. 84 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A native of Michigan, King recorded 41 tackles, four tackles for loss and three pass deflections during his redshirt freshman season in 2022. The following season, King recorded 59 tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
This past season the Nittany Lion linebacker recorded 97 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks.
“King was a vocal and emotional leader for the Penn State defense in 2024,” Daniel Gallen, a Penn State reporter for Lions247 said. “King was voted a team captain before the season and he was also responsible for calling the defense as the mike linebacker with the green dot. He was productive as the team’s second-leading tackler while displaying an improved ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. King was a key presence of a unit that lost one of its other important pieces, safety KJ Winston, early in the season.”
King closes with purpose and accelerates downfield quickly. He has the quickness to cover a lot of real estate and competes with the necessary tenacity as a downhill enforcer. This past season he showed improvement in processing the action in front of him and finished the season with a career high 46 run stops.
“King is built like a traditional downhill thumper at 6-foot-1 and 248 pounds, and he might have played the season with a couple more pounds on his frame,” Gallen said. “He’s not afraid of contact, and he delivered some quality hits this season. I thought he did well to ID at the snap and put himself in the right position to make plays.”
King’s role early in his career will be a two-down thumper. He was often caught flat-footed in coverage. This past season he was often on the sideline on third downs and that could be his role at the next level. With his length and movement skills, he could continue to progress in coverage.
“This might be King’s weaker area,” Gallen said. “He got exposed against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, and his Pro Football Focus numbers aren’t the kindest towards him. Overall, I think he’s a savvy player who knows his limitations, but every once in a while, he could end up in a tough position.”
Fit with the Packers
A year ago the Packers used a pair of Top 100 picks on the linebacker position. With Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper under contract, it’s unlikely that Gutekunst will use another Top 100 pick on the position in the upcoming draft.
That’s where King enters the chat. The Penn State linebacker is likely to go on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With his play speed, length and improved feel for the game, King has the requisite skill set that could put him on Green Bay’s board to start Day 3 as they look to add depth to the linebacker room.
“If your team needs a vocal presence in the middle of its defense, then King should be an appealing prospect,” Gallen said. “Throughout his Penn State career, he demonstrated yearly improvement and showed that he could be used in different ways while creating havoc. He was also a team captain, which is something that shouldn’t be underrated when looking at the types of personalities who are being added to the locker room. He also understands what’s ahead as an NFL player because of the experience of his brother, Packers cornerback Kalen King, over the past year. King would be a welcome addition to an NFL roster.”
All-B1G HM in 2023
: ESPN