OVERVIEW
King played for former NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, so it's not a surprise that he has the skills to play defense at the highest level. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 pick at cornerback the past two seasons, using his length to make plays on the ball each season (39 tackles, three interceptions, five pass break-ups in 2015; 44 stops, 3.5 for loss, two interceptions team-high 13 PBUs in 2016). His one-handed interception in the end zone against Arizona State was one of the best plays in college football last fall. King began his career for the Huskies at safety, starting twice as a true freshman (17 tackles) and then 12 of 13 games in 2014 (65 tackles, one INT, three PBU). His senior year was the first time he did not miss games during the season, as he missed five games due to injury and one to illness during his first three years.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Rare height for the position. Solid job of restricting catch window on routes outside the numbers. Shoves receivers toward boundary and drifts into their running lane to decrease catch opportunity. Length creates challenge for receivers used to winning at the high point. Instinctive with good feel for finding football. Allowed just one touchdown over last 101 targets. Six career interceptions with hands to make the circus pick. Patient from press coverage. Quick to turn and locate once his back is to the quarterback. Saw increase in pass breakups in senior season. Willing to get physical with blocking receivers when it comes time to disengage and make a tackle. Has played all four spots in secondary and slot corner as well.WEAKNESSES
Timed speed and play speed are both concerns. Sluggish feet in press allow quick-releasers to shoot past him. Unable to find necessary acceleration for functional makeup speed. Hands are flimsy in his jams. Could use more upper body strength. High center of gravity makes sudden change of direction a challenge. NFL ball production could be a concern. Takes path to his man over paths to the ball. Lacks desired twitch for NFL transitioning to the throws. Takes too long from bail technique and backpedal to plant and burst on the ball. Ankle biter willing to engage in too many arm tackles and blind shoulder rolls.DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 1-2SOURCES TELL US
"I'm not 100 percent sure what you do with him because he's not a physical tackler, but he's almost too tall to be trusted against shifty receivers. Maybe a team like Seattle, which love those long, press corners. Or you might see a team try and make him a free safety." -- West Coast regional scout for AFC teamNFL COMPARISON
Damian SwannBOTTOM LINE
Unusually tall cornerback with experience playing in the slot and as a starting safety. Showed improved instincts and ball production in 2016, but there are still concerns about whether he has the athleticism and recovery speed to utilize his length to play the football. Might be best suited to more zone coverage or off-man based on his speed limitations, but in either scheme he'll need to improve his aggressiveness as a tackler.
PLAYER OVERVIEW
With all due respect to Marcus Peters (No. 18 overall in 2015 by Kansas City), Sidney Jones IV and Budda Baker, the most versatile defender in Washington's talent-laden secondary the past few years was King, who reigned regardless of whether he was asked to line up at safety or cornerback.Though he starred at cornerback in high school, King initially earned playing for the Huskies at safety, starting 14 (including 12 as a sophomore) games over his first two years with the program. He was asked to slide back to cornerback in 2015 after then-new head coach Chris Petersen booted Peters off the team and earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 honors with a career high three interceptions and eight passes defensed. While lining up at cornerback (on the perimeter and inside in nickel), King was again voted to the Honorable Mention squad in 2016, despite recording an eye-popping 15 passes defensed, tie for second best in the conference over the regular season.
King's calling card is his versatility. He possesses the size, acceleration, awareness and reliable open-field tackling skills to revert back to free safety at the next level. He is surprisingly agile for a player of his height, however, and could remain at cornerback for a heavy press or zone scheme that features his click-and-close ability.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Offers rare size at cornerback with a lean, tapered frame, including very long limbs. Surprisingly agile in coverage, showing the loose hips to turn and shadow receivers downfield when in press coverage. Will extend an arm but isn't reliant upon landing his initial jam. A cerebral, experienced player often slid inside to play nickel duties against three and four receiver sets. Very good awareness while in zone, anticipating underneath routes and closing quickly downhill to break up passes, often providing a physical pop on contact to jar the ball free. Good hand-eye coordination to sneak his mitt between those of the intended receiver to rip it away as it arrives and has shown good ballskills to record the interception (including a one-handed circus catch in the end zone against Arizona State). Generally a reliable open-field tackler, whose uses his long arms to lasso the legs of ball-carriers. High character player who earned Honorable Mention All-Academic honors as a senior as well as the team's community service award.WEAKNESSES: Is not as consistently physical as his size and occasional big hits might indicate. Too often seems more interested in ripping at the ball with his tackles and has too many of his tackle attempts broken. More of a grabber as a tackler, rather than consistently hitting, driving and wrapping securely. At his best facing the quarterback. Like a lot of longer cornerbacks, King needs an extra step to change direction, leaving him somewhat vulnerable to smaller, shiftier receivers. Projects best in some schemes to safety, a position he has not played in two years (and was complemented by two stellar cover corners in Peters and Jones when he did play this role).
IN OUR VIEW: Though his more touted teammates will likely earn a higher draft pick, King's size, awareness and versatility warrant top 100 consideration. His ability to play multiple roles should help King earn a roster spot in the NFL. His size is both a quality and a curse. While big enough to shrink passing lanes, King will always be vulnerable to shifty route-runners.
COMPARES TO: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Seattle Seahawks: Teams prioritizing length at cornerback will no doubt be intrigued by King's length. Jean-Baptiste has struggled to make an impact in the NFL after the New Orleans Saints made the former Nebraska standout the 58th overall pick of the 2014 draft. King's experience at safety could make his transition to the NFL a smoother one.
--Rob Rang (1/16/17)
