Desmond King, CB, Iowa: 2017 NFL Draft scouting report and analysis

5 of 5

Nov 14, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) during warmups against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall Thoughts

With questions about a potential move to safety sort of clouding his overall draft status, I think Desmond King is primed to be drafted far lower than he deserves to be.

After his junior season, King was getting hyped as a possible first round pick, and that player didn’t disappear. Of course, coming back for another season, he was put under a microscope. With fewer opportunities coming his way (quarterbacks just didn’t throw at King much this past year) and more exposure to receivers with great deep speed, King’s stock has fallen to a second or third round overall grade.

For me, the opportunity and potential switch to safety only increases King’s value moving forward. He’s obviously one of the most durable players in this draft class, someone who can play a high volume of snaps and give you a high level of production in those snaps.

More from NFL Mocks

He’s going to be an asset on special teams and certainly in this draft class, one that is incredibly deep in the defensive backfield, King has some of the best hands and ball skills overall. This is a player that I think is going to be able to play right away in the NFL on the inside at nickel, on the outsize in zone, or even as a safety. He’s going to be able to be on the field whenever defensive or special teams coaches want, and to me that makes him a sort of ‘dream’ addition on day two because you can use him so many different ways.

He missed a few tackles here or there, but King’s aggressive stye of play really reminded me a lot of Chris Harris Jr., who played nickel and safety initially as an undrafted player for the Broncos before moving outside and playing all over the place.

I think King can be a similarly used player at the next level, but like another former Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback-to-safety convert in Micah Hyde, King can also made a significant impact as a kick and punt returner.

This player is going to unquestionably out-play his draft status at the next level.

Home/NFL Draft