King had every opportunity to leave for the NFL after his junior year, but decided to stay with his team and earn his degree. The 2015 Jim Thorpe Award winner and unanimous Consensus All-American ranked second in the FBS with eight interceptions. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as well, starting 14 times, making 72 tackles and breaking up 13 passes. King was a first-team All-Big Ten pick again as a senior, although he "only" had three interceptions and seven pass breakups as teams avoided him. King's promise was obvious in his freshman year, when he grabbed a starting spot right off the bat (69 tackles, three TFL, eight PBU). He started gaining notoriety by league media with an honorable mention all-conference sophomore season (started all 13 games, 72 tackles, three INT, five PBU). King also returned kicks (26.0 per) and punts (11.7 per) the past two years.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Four-year starter and ultimate iron man. Played in more than 94 percent of Iowa's defensive snaps over his four years and took 46 percent of the special teams snaps in 2016. Football instincts are off the charts. Focused quarterback reader who overlaps into other coverage areas to go make a play on the ball. Pattern reader with anticipation to keep him ahead of the route. Creates unique angles to throws, allowing for top-ball production. Obsessed with getting the ball; nabbed 14 interceptions in college and 29 in high school. Has ball-tracking, hands and high-point talent of a wideout. Stocky frame with physical play demeanor. Good press strength. Rough on slot receivers who can't make a quick get-away off the line. Viable option as both punt and kick returner. Not overly physical as tackler but tends to finish.
WEAKNESSES Lacks long speed and height associated with bump and run cornerbacks. Struggles to carry receivers down the field. Can be mismatched by legitimate speed merchants. Grinder who lacks mirror-and-match fluidity and foot quickness. Relies on hands usage and grabbing over footwork to transition and match on intermediate routes. In press, can get behind when facing off against slick releases from slot weapons. Lacks recovery speed to consistently close open throwing windows on NFL level. Penalized 11 times, including five personal fouls, over final two seasons. Needs to show more explosion into tackles and improve wrap-up technique.
DRAFT PROJECTION Round 3
SOURCES TELL US "You worry about the physical limitations a little bit because teams will find your weaknesses and exploit them. But he's just so steady and productive and tough. He loves football and I think he'll just find a way." -- Midwest scout for AFC team
NFL COMPARISON Jairus Byrd
BOTTOM LINE Lack of size and speed combined with his ball skills, instincts, and competitiveness all point to a transition to safety. While he can improve as a tackler, he's got the toughness and mentality to take on run-support duties. Can cover in man when asked and has the ball-tracking skills and anticipation that should allow him to thrive in two-deep and single-high situations. A likely second-day (Rounds 2-3) selection and could be targeted as a zone corner or a safety with early starting potential.
King had every opportunity to leave for the NFL after his junior year, but decided to stay with his team and earn his degree. The 2015 Jim Thorpe Award winner and unanimous Consensus All-American ranked second in the FBS with eight interceptions. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as well, starting 14 times, making 72 tackles and breaking up 13 passes. King was a first-team All-Big Ten pick again as a senior, although he "only" had three interceptions and seven pass breakups as teams avoided him. King's promise was obvious in his freshman year, when he grabbed a starting spot right off the bat (69 tackles, three TFL, eight PBU). He started gaining notoriety by league media with an honorable mention all-conference sophomore season (started all 13 games, 72 tackles, three INT, five PBU). King also returned kicks (26.0 per) and punts (11.7 per) the past two years.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Four-year starter and ultimate iron man. Played in more than 94 percent of Iowa's defensive snaps over his four years and took 46 percent of the special teams snaps in 2016. Football instincts are off the charts. Focused quarterback reader who overlaps into other coverage areas to go make a play on the ball. Pattern reader with anticipation to keep him ahead of the route. Creates unique angles to throws, allowing for top-ball production. Obsessed with getting the ball; nabbed 14 interceptions in college and 29 in high school. Has ball-tracking, hands and high-point talent of a wideout. Stocky frame with physical play demeanor. Good press strength. Rough on slot receivers who can't make a quick get-away off the line. Viable option as both punt and kick returner. Not overly physical as tackler but tends to finish.
WEAKNESSES Lacks long speed and height associated with bump and run cornerbacks. Struggles to carry receivers down the field. Can be mismatched by legitimate speed merchants. Grinder who lacks mirror-and-match fluidity and foot quickness. Relies on hands usage and grabbing over footwork to transition and match on intermediate routes. In press, can get behind when facing off against slick releases from slot weapons. Lacks recovery speed to consistently close open throwing windows on NFL level. Penalized 11 times, including five personal fouls, over final two seasons. Needs to show more explosion into tackles and improve wrap-up technique.
DRAFT PROJECTION Round 3
SOURCES TELL US "You worry about the physical limitations a little bit because teams will find your weaknesses and exploit them. But he's just so steady and productive and tough. He loves football and I think he'll just find a way." -- Midwest scout for AFC team
NFL COMPARISON Jairus Byrd
BOTTOM LINE Lack of size and speed combined with his ball skills, instincts, and competitiveness all point to a transition to safety. While he can improve as a tackler, he's got the toughness and mentality to take on run-support duties. Can cover in man when asked and has the ball-tracking skills and anticipation that should allow him to thrive in two-deep and single-high situations. A likely second-day (Rounds 2-3) selection and could be targeted as a zone corner or a safety with early starting potential.
My scouting was limited this year so I actually have no prospect preference. All know is what postion i want adressed: 1. Safety 2. 3-4 DE 3. CB 4. WR/ILB, with 1. being the postion we need to adress the most.
56. Dorian Johnson, OL, Pittsburgh 58. Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU 59. Tedric Thompson, S, Colorado 64. Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU 65. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma 70. Desmond King, CB, Iowa 74. Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson 76. Josh Malone, WR, Tennessee 77. Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn 81. Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming 83. Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee 84. Isaac Asiata, OG, Utah 86. Zach Banner, OT, USC 87. Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas 89. Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M 90. Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin 92. Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State 95. Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa 97. Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell 98. Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma 99. Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh 100. David Sharpe, OT, Florida 101. Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida 102. George Kittle, TE, Iowa 103. Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Texas A&M 106. Ishmael Zamora, WR, Baylor 107. Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech 108. Chad Hansen, WR, Cal 111. Nico Siragusa, OL, San Diego State 113. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami 116. KD Cannon, WR, Baylor 118. Jake Butt, TE, Michigan 119. Danny Isidora, OG, Miami 122. Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson 126. Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern 130. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego St. 132. Howard Wilson, CB, Houston 134. Jehu Chesson, WR, Michigan 135. Jessamen Dunker, OG, Tennessee St. 136. Fadol Brown, DE, Ole Miss 137. Collin Buchanan, OT, Miami (Ohio) 138. Avery Gennesy, OT, Texas A&M 141. Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia 142. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise St. 143. Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina 144. Tarik Cohen, RB-KR, North Carolina A&T 145. Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota 146. Zane Gonzalez, K, Arizona State 147. Brandon Barnes, TE, Alabama St. 148. Ben Gedeon, ILB, Michigan
Wish we could've given Bills 4th rd pick to 49ers, not ours...
still a lot of a strong prospects to choose from. Unfort. we missed on out on a 5 tech and a stud DB. I don't see any 5tech prospects left somewhat surprised / disappointed by that especially since Wormley would have been there for us in the 3rd. Howard Wilson and Jaley Myrick are decent DB prospects so we could still get adequate talent there.
The fact that two good FS are on the board is a bonus but Pace prolly needs to trade to get one and I'm not sure he has the ammunition needed to do so. Landing wither King or Tedric Thompson would be very surprising in the 4th.
Malachi Dupree would be an excellent addition at WR and there are a lot of OGs left who fit the Bears schematically starting with Dorian Johnson.
Oh, let us not forget that Zone Gonzalez is still on the board and while we can laugh at picking kickers in mock drafts, the dudes good as any kicker out there and is probably getting selected by someone in the 5th - maybe us?
56. Dorian Johnson, OL, Pittsburgh 58. Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU 59. Tedric Thompson, S, Colorado 64. Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU 65. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma 70. Desmond King, CB, Iowa 74. Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson 76. Josh Malone, WR, Tennessee 77. Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn 81. Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming 83. Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee 84. Isaac Asiata, OG, Utah 86. Zach Banner, OT, USC 87. Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas 89. Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M 90. Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin 92. Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State 95. Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa 97. Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell 98. Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma 99. Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh 100. David Sharpe, OT, Florida 101. Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida 102. George Kittle, TE, Iowa 103. Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Texas A&M 106. Ishmael Zamora, WR, Baylor 107. Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech 108. Chad Hansen, WR, Cal 111. Nico Siragusa, OL, San Diego State 113. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami 116. KD Cannon, WR, Baylor 118. Jake Butt, TE, Michigan 119. Danny Isidora, OG, Miami 122. Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson 126. Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern 130. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego St. 132. Howard Wilson, CB, Houston 134. Jehu Chesson, WR, Michigan 135. Jessamen Dunker, OG, Tennessee St. 136. Fadol Brown, DE, Ole Miss 137. Collin Buchanan, OT, Miami (Ohio) 138. Avery Gennesy, OT, Texas A&M 141. Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia 142. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise St. 143. Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina 144. Tarik Cohen, RB-KR, North Carolina A&T 145. Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota 146. Zane Gonzalez, K, Arizona State 147. Brandon Barnes, TE, Alabama St. 148. Ben Gedeon, ILB, Michigan
Wish we could've given Bills 4th rd pick to 49ers, not ours...
still a lot of a strong prospects to choose from. Unfort. we missed on out on a 5 tech and a stud DB. I don't see any 5tech prospects left somewhat surprised / disappointed by that especially since Wormley would have been there for us in the 3rd. Howard Wilson and Jaley Myrick are decent DB prospects so we could still get adequate talent there.
The fact that two good FS are on the board is a bonus but Pace prolly needs to trade to get one and I'm not sure he has the ammunition needed to do so. Landing wither King or Tedric Thompson would be very surprising in the 4th.
Malachi Dupree would be an excellent addition at WR and there are a lot of OGs left who fit the Bears schematically starting with Dorian Johnson.
Oh, let us not forget that Zone Gonzalez is still on the board and while we can laugh at picking kickers in mock drafts, the dudes good as any kicker out there and is probably getting selected by someone in the 5th - maybe us?
Im not sure Pace even had DB's high on his list. We have signed a whopping number of DB's, if im not mistaken I believe we have 18 guys there at the moment. Im sure (I hope!) they already have something good. Could it be Hall and Fuller to S? Maybe hope for Banks? We'll see. Im hoping for Lawson, although he has injury concerns. Maybe a WR too.
still a lot of a strong prospects to choose from. Unfort. we missed on out on a 5 tech and a stud DB. I don't see any 5tech prospects left somewhat surprised / disappointed by that especially since Wormley would have been there for us in the 3rd. Howard Wilson and Jaley Myrick are decent DB prospects so we could still get adequate talent there.
The fact that two good FS are on the board is a bonus but Pace prolly needs to trade to get one and I'm not sure he has the ammunition needed to do so. Landing wither King or Tedric Thompson would be very surprising in the 4th.
Malachi Dupree would be an excellent addition at WR and there are a lot of OGs left who fit the Bears schematically starting with Dorian Johnson.
Oh, let us not forget that Zone Gonzalez is still on the board and while we can laugh at picking kickers in mock drafts, the dudes good as any kicker out there and is probably getting selected by someone in the 5th - maybe us?
Im not sure Pace even had DB's high on his list. We have signed a whopping number of DB's, if im not mistaken I believe we have 18 guys there at the moment. Im sure (I hope!) they already have something good. Could it be Hall and Fuller to S? Maybe hope for Banks? We'll see. Im hoping for Lawson, although he has injury concerns. Maybe a WR too.
My hopes are pretty inline with the rankings. I think Dorian Johnson is the guy you take if he's there. Dude sounds like a great fit and with the question marks behind Long and Grasu (who's been described as a center only) I think picking up a young OG like Johnson is smart.
There there's Lawson who would provide some talent at an injury prone OLB unit.
I'd love to see King or Thompson get called for obvious reasons but def. see your perspective that we might have guys in house Pace and Fox believe in.
The last mention will go to Jaleel Johnson. I don't see him as a great 5 tech prospect but he could be a rough fit there.
Today would mind seeing Lawson, Carl OLB 6'2" 261 Auburn Jones, Jarron DT 6'6" 316 Notre Dame Wise, Deatrich DE 6'5" 274 Arkansas King, Desmond S 5'10" 201 Iowa Thompson, Tedric FS 6'0" 204 Colorado Jenkins, Rayshawn S 6'1" 214 Miami Johnson, Jadar S 6'0" 206 Clemson Wilson, Howard CB 6'1" 184 Houston Hairston, Nate CB 6'0" 196 Temple Stribling, Channing CB 6'1" 188 Michigan White, Marquez CB 6'0" 194 Florida St. Westbrook, Dede WR 6'0" 178 Oklahoma Hansen, Chad WR 6'2" 202 California Reynolds, Josh WR 6'3" 194 Texas A&M Hollins, Mack WR 6'4" 221 North Carolina Chesson, Jehu WR 6'3" 204 Michigan Sharpe, David OT 6'6" 343 Florida Banner, Zach OT 6'8" 353 USC Holden, Will OT 6'7" 311 Vanderbilt Johnson, Roderick OT 6'7" 298 Florida St.
DE class and LB class is REALLY thin; kind of sad really. This is where losing that 3rd reall hurt apprently. highlighted are guys I hope they are targetting
Today would mind seeing Lawson, Carl OLB 6'2" 261 Auburn Jones, Jarron DT 6'6" 316 Notre Dame Wise, Deatrich DE 6'5" 274 Arkansas King, Desmond S 5'10" 201 Iowa Thompson, Tedric FS 6'0" 204 Colorado Jenkins, Rayshawn S 6'1" 214 Miami Johnson, Jadar S 6'0" 206 Clemson Wilson, Howard CB 6'1" 184 Houston Hairston, Nate CB 6'0" 196 Temple Stribling, Channing CB 6'1" 188 Michigan White, Marquez CB 6'0" 194 Florida St. Westbrook, Dede WR 6'0" 178 Oklahoma Hansen, Chad WR 6'2" 202 California Reynolds, Josh WR 6'3" 194 Texas A&M Hollins, Mack WR 6'4" 221 North Carolina Chesson, Jehu WR 6'3" 204 Michigan Sharpe, David OT 6'6" 343 Florida Banner, Zach OT 6'8" 353 USC Holden, Will OT 6'7" 311 Vanderbilt Johnson, Roderick OT 6'7" 298 Florida St.
DE class and LB class is REALLY thin; kind of sad really. This is where losing that 3rd reall hurt apprently.
You're all for OTs regarding O-line. I agree with Belli we need help at OG just as well. This years OT's Leno, Massie and Compton, interior: Long, Sitton, Whitehair, Grasu, Kush. We are one injury away from a disaster. Long has injuries (a lot of them really), Sitton is not getting younger, Grasu (for now), Kush and Compton are probably just reserves.