Kalen King was the third-to-last player selected in the entire 2024 Draft, after being forced to return to Penn State
GREEN BAY — Here’s what I thought Kalen King of having been able to enter the 2023 NFL Draft: A signing bonus in the range of $7 million to $8 million as a mid-to-late first-round pick, a nearly guaranteed roster spot, and the opportunity to start immediately as a starter.
Here is what he got King of the Draft 2024: A signing bonus of $80,736 and nothing more than the chance to earn a roster spot in training camp.
That’s the difference between the dream life of a first-round pick — if players were allowed to declare early for the draft. NFL two years after finishing high school– and the reality of King as the second-to-last player selected in the entire draft after being forced to return to Penn State for a third season.
As the third-to-last pick in the 2024 Draft, Kalen King has nothing guaranteed in Green Bay beyond an opportunity. Stacy Revere/Getty Images
King He went from being a safe prospect to a cornerback who I didn’t understand what was happening while the draft was going on.. It wasn’t until the final minutes of the seventh round when he received a call from the Green Bay Packerswho chose him with the 255th overall pick out of the 257 total.
“Honestly, I think they could have taken the theft of the draft“, he mentioned Terry Smithassociate head coach/defensive recruiting coordinator/cornerbacks coach for Penn State.
Justly, King He has a “permanent resentment,” as he said during last week’s rookie minicamp.
“I feel that I will never forget that feeling“, revealed King. “And, I feel like that’s just going to make me go harder and keep me going.”
In the very premature mock drafts that followed the 2023 NFL Draftat least three of them — Pro Football Focus, The Athletic and Bleacher Report — projected King in the range of the No. 15 to No. 20 pick for 2024. Last July, the analyst for draft of ESPNMatt Miller, in a story discussing the best prospects at all positions, wrote that King o Kool-Aid McKinstry of Alabama They would be the first cornerback. McKinstry He finished as the ninth pick in the second round, and fifth cornerback selected in 2024. King He was No. 36, and the last cornerback selected.
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“The talent is there if you can get back on the line and elevate your effort,” he described. Miller this week. “I never saw him as an elite athlete, but very good at technique. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found his way into a nickel-and-dime defensive role.”
It all leads to the question of,What happened between your second and third year in Penn State?
In 2022, King He started nine of 13 games and led the Big Ten (third, nationally) in passes defended, with 21. He also intercepted three passes and forced a fumble.
“That was his best campaign, by far,” he mentioned. Smith“He played alongside Joey Porter [Jr.]. She did it big. He showed what you are going to receive.”
A year later, he started all 12 games in his junior campaign, but had just two pass breakups and no interception or forced fumble.
Smith described the difference as “a combination of things,” including the departure of Porter as a second round pick for the Steelers in 2023.
“Sometimes, There’s a guy who wants to be Batman and maybe he’ll be Robin.“he noted Smith. “We had Joey Porter and it’s just different. Sitting in that No. 1 seat is different from No. 2. That’s the only thing I can think of.
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“He prepared himself the same way. Sometimes with some kids, you never know the circle around them and he gives them different information, but I don’t know. He prepared himself and showed up every day.”
Smith pointed out that, despite the decline in the statistical numbers of Kingdid not allow a touchdown throughout the campaign.
“At the end of the day, a cornerback who doesn’t give up touchdowns is pretty successful,” he said. Smith. “We’re being picky because we want more plays, but at the end of the game, they’re not giving up the game-winning touchdown, either.”
The good news for King in Green Bay is that he was the only cornerback selected by the Packers among his 11 recruits. This, after some projections had them choosing a cornerback in the first round. So, there is ample opportunity, even though the Packers count on Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon y Corey Ballentineall of them starter-caliber cornerbacks.
It is also not unusual for Packers turning late-round draftees or undrafted players into starting cornerbacks. Just last year, they elected Valentine in the seventh round (No. 232 overall), and started 12 matches.
And then there’s the new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafleywho has seen players take a similar path toward NFL as Kingand find success.
“One of the best I’ve been with is K’Waun Williamswho was a starter in the slot for us in Cleveland“he commented Hafley. “We took him as a probationary guy, and he started before a first-round pick [Justin Gilbert].
“When you get an opportunity in this league, and you make the most of it, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter where you were drafted. But, there are quite a few stories like that. It’s just someone who is in a similar position in terms of role position. I don’t think so. I am comparing with K’Waun; I haven’t seen enough, yet, but I think K’Waun “He’s one of the best to play the position in a system like this.”
King, at 5 feet, 11 inches, and 191 pounds, has already made his mark. During last week’s rookie minicamp, she got some reps in the slot, a position that could suit her well in the system. Hafley. In the first practice, King forced a fumble that the linebacker Edgerrin Cooper returned for touchdown.
If that was the “permanent resentment” that loomed for Kingthen you can signal that more is coming.
“I think it’s motivation,” he admitted. Smith. “It’s obviously not where she expected [ser reclutado], and it’s humiliating. And I think now some sense of reality of this, is where people saw you, and this is the reality of the situation, and now you have to make the most of the situation and play with something to show for that resentment.”
2024-05-10 04:44:52
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