2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Kevin King
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs could absolutely use some help in the secondary. Kevin King of Washington is a player starting to get a lot of attention in the draft.
There were some major ups and downs for the Kansas City Chiefs cornerbacks last year. That is an issue that will only get more complicated unless the Chiefs invest in the position now. The 2017 NFL Draft offers a lot of excellent options at corner. Kevin King of Washington is starting to get noticed as one of the best.
Marcus Peters, Steven Nelson, and DJ White are the only Chiefs corners signed beyond this season. That makes cornerback very much a position that needs to be looked at. On top of that, there are some players at the position who could very easily be beaten out in Training Camp this year.
In today’s NFL, you need at least three starting caliber cornerbacks on your roster and ready to go. That means a team would be smart to have at least four. The Chiefs are not at that point, and would only be further behind the eight ball next year.
Related Story: NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report Central
This is an excellent draft for getting a cornerback as there are a lot of talented ones. In fact, if the Chiefs were to grab two from this class, I wouldn’t be the least bit bothered by it. There is need at the position and a ton of talent to choose form. John Dorsey should not limit himself when it comes to getting better players on the roster.
2017 CB draft prospects Ahkello Witherspoon and Kevin King saw their passer rating allowed improve in each of the past three seasons. pic.twitter.com/YUzpzfT0gr
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 22, 2017
Kevin King – CB – Washington
More from Chiefs Draft Analysis
- Will Chiefs Draft Western Kentucky Hilltopper DeAngelo Malone?
- The Kansas City Chiefs Address Defense with This Mock Draft
- Will Chiefs Take Boston College Cornerback?
- The Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
- Why The Chiefs Should Draft Wide Receiver Christian Watson
Earlier this offseason, Sidney Jones was the Washington corner everyone was talking about. However, over the past few weeks, Kevin King has emerged as the popular name. King, on the back of some impressive displays, has gone from second fiddle to potential first round pick. Not a bad turn around.
Kevin King brings excellent athleticism to the field. Explosive runner with quick feet and a smooth gait. His height, rare for a corner, allows him to gain position on receivers despite their size. Shows solid ability to track the ball in flight, and has the hands to capitalize. Can shut down opposing receivers. Versatility as a defensive back, playing all over the secondary.
The biggest negatives I see in Kevin King show up in press coverage. He can get a little flat footed, allowing quicker receivers to get a release. Doesn’t use his hands well and can over-commit early. If receiver gets by him, struggles to regain his composure and get back into coverage.
Someone is going to get a talented defender with Kevin King. He’s gone under the radar with Marcus Peters and then Sidney Jones getting all the attention. However, the secret is out now. I like his fit in the Chiefs defense as Bob Sutton uses more off coverages now. King would be ideal on the outside for KC.
The Kansas City Chiefs need to set up a long-term plan for their secondary. Cornerbacks are becoming a hot commodity in the NFL these days, and there is no such thing as having too many. If offenses are going to continue to focus on throwing the ball, defenses have to be ready to stop them.