Kevin King Playing Toward a New Deal
After an injury-ridden start to his career, Packers corner Kevin King could get a second contract.
During his first two seasons, Green Bay Packers corner Kevin King was mostly forgettable. That sort of thing tends to happen when you miss more games than you actually play. However, now he enters the final year of his rookie contract and is coming off his best season as a pro. Against all odds, King has gone from draft bust to presumably playing his way toward a second contract with the Packers.
The idea isn’t as crazy now as it was a year ago.
Before last season, King was getting no love as the season approached. Coming off a year in which he only played in six games, fans counted him out before the first snap in practice. Hard to believe how far he had fallen in just two years.
King’s length and athletic gifts had fans drooling when they selected him 33rd overall in 2017. By all accounts, Green Bay thought they were getting their version of Richard Sherman or perhaps hoping for at least somewhat of a resemblance. Unfortunately for King, his rookie season was limited to nine games because of a nagging shoulder. His second year, it was a hamstring that caused him to miss 10 games.
So, in two years, King appeared in 15 games while missing 17 due to injury.
When 2019 training camp rolled around, fans were greeted by an all too familiar feeling. King sat out practice and failed to appear in a single preseason game as he nursed yet another hamstring injury. For the third year in a row, it appeared the former second-rounder could not be counted on.
Against all odds, King played in the season opener against the Chicago Bears. In 41 snaps, he recorded five tackles, his first career sack, and a pass deflection. Finally, after a long-awaited 2019 debut, the Packers saw the version of King they had always hoped for in his development. In the following week, King made the pivotal interception to help beat the Minnesota Vikings. Undoubtedly, he was back.
In 15 games last year, King led all defensive players with five interceptions. Critics, of course, will say King was far too inconsistent throughout the season. It's a fair critique, however, nothing defeats the fact that King never surrendered a single touchdown all season and emerged as Green Bay’s most impactful corner.
When healthy, King is a game-changer for the Packers defense. Some of you may disagree, but his presence on the field is far more telling than when he is off. King is a true number two corner in all aspects.
If King has a repeat of last season in 2020, it will give Green Bay a lot to think about next offseason. Besides Jaire Alexander, the Packers have very little hope at corner. Chandon Sullivan and Josh Jackson can’t be counted out yet, but they also can’t be relied on like King.
Next year, King is among a Green Bay free-agent class that includes Kenny Clark, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Corey Linsley. Hopefully, Clark and Bakhtiari are locked up sooner rather than later, but beyond those two, it gets much more difficult to decide who stays and who goes.
In today’s NFL, paying a running back in considered infeasible. Back in 2017, the team allowed JC Tretter to sign elsewhere in favor of Linsley. It’s not impossible to imagine the Packers going a different route at center in favor of using any extra cap on a number two corner. The team did spend three draft picks on the offensive line this year and have an emerging lineman in Elgton Jenkins, who was one of the best centers in the country at Mississippi State.
Meanwhile, Green Bay has struggled to solidify the corner position for years, but King has finally helped bring some stability. For the right price, signing him to another contract would make a ton of sense.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
Comments (18)
stockholder
June 15, 2020 at 06:39 am
We draft players to develop. Well King Has developed. Forget the injuries. This defense needs King. Not another failed project. Stability in the secondary. Thats what your paying for. King has this. He's as good as it gets. Lets not go backwards by letting King go.
Thegreatreynoldo
June 16, 2020 at 03:01 am
King might be the most replaceable. He is an average boundary corner. He has improved each year, though. It depends on the price and how he plays this year, as well as on the development of Hollman, Ento, and perhaps others.
stockholder
June 16, 2020 at 06:49 am
He's in the top 10, per COVERAGE CBs. Thats not Average. But better then Average. It always depends on the price. This defense plays better when he's in there. The Packers made a mistake with Casey Hayward. And again when Tramon Williams left. Low Balling a CB doesn't work in GB.
DrMixerGED
June 16, 2020 at 11:51 am
Agree completely, TGR. I really like King and had high hopes but injuries have plagued the guy. I'm in favor of a second contract, within reason.
Roadrunner23
June 15, 2020 at 08:45 am
The Packers should be able to re-sign King and I believe they will. They will have some hard choices:
King
Bakhtiari
Jones
Williams
Linsley
Clark
But all NFL teams have the same tough choices to make.
If I had to choose 3 it would be Bakhtiari Clark and King because all three play positions that are not easily replaced.
That is why Russ Ball and Brian Gutekunst get paid the big bucks.
They’ll be fine...
Leatherhead
June 15, 2020 at 09:48 am
We have players under contract for 2021. Rodgers, Adams,Smith, Smith, and Amos already combine for about half our cap space. We aren’t going to sign anybody to an 8 digit deal.
King would be a priority to me because of our emphasis on stopping the pass.
Thegreatreynoldo
June 16, 2020 at 02:51 am
It looks like you might have clicked even at the risk of your eyes glazing over!
murf7777
June 15, 2020 at 02:48 pm
Nostradanus...I think signing Bak is the most important because we must protect the QB so, here's an interesting thought; Clark's value is at an all time high being he is a pro bowl and young and rising star. What might he fetch on the trade market? Possibly a 1st and 3rd. If that's the case, trade him and sign one or two of the fringe DL (Snacks) on the market right now.
In Pettine's D, the main pass rush comes from the LB's and if the DL can hold the opposing OL and get some push that will free up the LB's to make plays. Its a risk, but I prefer BAK and others signed. By signing Clark at 17-21M that will leave little available to get other important quality players signed.
This is a type of move Belichick would make and it has worked out for him over the years. Also, Mack certainly hasn't put Chicago over the top and it has hurt them due to few dollars available to fill other positions with quality players.
This is a bold, outside the box thinking and wouldn't put it past Gutey to consider it as he has shown to be pretty bold.
PatrickGB
June 15, 2020 at 09:07 am
I would like us to keep them all. But realistically it’s not possible. I kinda go against the grain here and say that Bak is one of the odd men out. Keep King and Clark, try and keep Jones and count on comp picks for the others. It’s better to let a good player go one year early than one year late. And Bak fits that category. Lindsay and Turner may also be gone. We drafted a bunch of linemen and a couple of them look promising. Given Pettine’s scheme, King and Clark are key players. The offense will change with the new system and that may mean some players on offense might have to be let go. I don’t like it but I think that younger players are the key to the future and King is one of them. Not signing Tramon shows me that the plan is to go younger.
Besides, that is not going to happen until next year. We still have (hopefully) this year to enjoy.
murf7777
June 15, 2020 at 09:31 am
“Against all odds, King has gone from draft bust to presumably playing his way toward a second contract with the Packers.”
Hardly against all odds......Your right thou, many fans felt that way, but don’t think the team did. Many fans are to quick to use the “bust” word without consideration of circumstances. King had injuries in his first two years. It is hard properly evaluate how those injuries affected his play. In addition, some players take time to develop and need skill training. Lastly, a new D coordinator which King had in year two can stunt growth. He’s 6’3, good speed and coverage skills, we need to keep him and should be priority 3 on our FA signing.
jannesbjornson
June 15, 2020 at 08:46 pm
He makes the picks, Alexander drops four-five. I would let King play man coverage and forget the lame version of read zone with no reaction Pettine schemes. Let both CBs do their thing and get the safeties thinking of leverage and following the vectors to the ball. Still need to bring in a DT or DE with some nasty.
TheVOR
June 15, 2020 at 09:39 am
Well, I keep going back to a simple truth - In the NFL, Availability is KING, not to be confused with availability is Kevin King. He's only been available for 30 of 48 possible starts. That's 62.5% availability. IMO, Not good enough to hang a serious contract on, and if they do, they'll be sorry! I mean if it's a bargain or something maybe.
Let me say this, I do like this player, even watched him in College, loved this player coming out. Actually like him for GB a lot. When available he plays well. It's just that an absolute fact exists in the NFL. Some players have NFL BODIES, and some players don't. That typically doesn't change. Injury histories that have you missing 37.5% of your starts isn't just bad luck. It's an injury history. Fact, all players get injured. Fact, some players have the make up to make their starts and play at a high level when they do. They're basically almost impervious to to pain, Brett Favre being a primary example of exactly that. King is not that guy.
gkarl
June 15, 2020 at 01:02 pm
VOR,
Can't agree more with your King comments. Jones is a similar story line, just not as much injury.
If anybody get paid this off season its probably Clark, proven and young. I think the FO takes a wait and see approach on Bak and everyone else.
murf7777
June 15, 2020 at 02:21 pm
VOR, I won't totally disagree with you as it has happened in his first two years in the NFL so there is somewhat of a pattern. But, if you look at Charles Woodson in year 5 thru 8 he went thru a similar period of injuries where 3 out of 4 years he was injured with two of the years playing less then half the games. Before that time, and after, he played most all of the games. Now, if that happened to Charles in the first 4 years vs the second 4 years how would he be labeled? You just never know, but as you stated the risk is there. Personally, if he has another year or better then last year I'd definitely sign him. You don't find many 6'3" CB that can play like he does.
splitpea1
June 15, 2020 at 11:09 am
It would be nice to have him back, but I doubt if he will be. Clark first, Bak second, and everybody else...most likely not. We'll probably be spending another high-round pick on a CB in the next draft--at least Gute picked a good one last time, and he'll need to do it again.
MrFitz66
June 15, 2020 at 05:38 pm
I think you are spot on.
ricky
June 15, 2020 at 11:14 am
If King does have another good season, then it will be time to seriously consider re-signing him. But I'm always leery of someone who is mediocre, or the best of group mediocre players, and they suddenly get much better during a contract season. All too often, the player is re-signed, or signs a big FA contract elsewhere, and disappoints. Is this a guarantee that King will do the same? No more than that he will continue to improve and stay healthy if he is re-signed. And as far as re-signing players, count on losing both Jones and Linsley.
mnbadger
June 16, 2020 at 08:41 pm
I love bakh, but he needs a solid return to form this year, including run blocking, before we talk about a major $ contract. If king plays 14 or more games plus playoffs, I'd resign him first. Bakh is a great fit for the old system. New system needs more athleticism.