Kalen King NFL Draft Overview
School – Penn State
Position – Cornerback
Height – 5’11”
Weight – 189 lbs.
2024 NFL Draft: Kalen King Scouting Report
Kalen King coming out of high school was a four-star recruit and highly regarded as an elite corner. As a freshman King played in 9 games tallying 21 tackles, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble. He flashed some solid skill and gave Penn State a lot to be excited about in the young corner.
In his sophomore season, King got an opportunity to finally showcase his skills. In 13 games played, he had 30 total tackles, 18 passes defended, and three interceptions. This started to generate some draft buzz and get him into scouts’ conversation. While King didn’t have eye-popping stats the talent that he possessed was evident.
In 12 games played King had 20 tackles, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles. This was an unfortunate step back in play from his sophomore season. His season was riddled with inconsistent play and often struggled to fill the void left by Joey Porter Jr. King failed to get an interception or really lockdown any receiver for the duration of a game. He had a very poor performance at the Senior Bowl being one of the biggest losers. He is an athletic freak though and could end up raising his stock at the combine.
Strengths
- Has excellent fluidity in his hips being able to sink and drive on routes
- Possesses some of the best instincts in the class having 18 passes defended in 2022
- Incredibly physical for his size, often wanting to get downhill and make the tackle in open space
- Receivers feel his presence is intimidating getting physical in coverage and being able to keep it clean
- Fluid footwork showing patience and intelligence when mirroring receivers
- Very high ceiling (Possibly a first-round talent)
- He can play in both man and zone coverage
- Plus run defender is willing to make plays in the open field
Weaknesses
- Might lack truly elite speed as he would often struggle to recover from mistakes
- His 2023 was an inconsistent mess, and he followed it up with a rough Senior Bowl
- He does lack in size and frame and doesn’t possess the eye-popping athleticism to make up for it
- Has limitations exposed when up against top receivers
- Might be a better second corner as he seemed to rely on having Porter Jr. opposite of him
Projected Draft Position: Early day two
Player Comparison: Jonathan Jones
Best Fits: Lions, Cardinals, Broncos
What to Expect of Kalen King
Kalen King is one of the most confusing prospects in this year’s draft. When he was opposite of Joey Porter Jr. he was elite, but as soon as he was asked to do it himself he fell off. His traits are outstanding, and it would make any NFL team happy to have him on their roster. The boom or bust potential is incredibly high so a team would need to believe in him if they want to get the most out of him.
NFL teams will consider picking him because he has a lot of potential. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be an exceptional second cornerback on a championship team. He possesses many qualities that could make him an early draft pick. His instincts are excellent, and his ability to track the ball and move his hips fluidly could make him an elite ballhawk. His physicality is also impressive, and NFL teams value players who can perform at all levels, making him a risk worth taking. He is never a mismatch because of his physicality, and teams would love to use this against more physical receivers.
He has a flip side to his potential as he may not live up to expectations. King possesses some promising qualities, but his success in 2022 was largely due to playing alongside Joey Porter Jr. He has yet to prove that he can perform well without being surrounded by top-tier players. Additionally, he lacks the elite speed that is necessary in modern football. King struggled against highly skilled receivers during his college career.
Although King’s draft stock has fallen after a difficult season, he remains a promising prospect who is worth considering on day two. With the right coaching, he has the potential to be a standout player and make a significant impact on the field. He is versatile enough to be a valuable addition to any NFL team, and his ability to fit into any scheme will be highly valued. Even if he doesn’t become a star player, he could still be a useful depth player for any team.
Main Photo: Dan Rainville-USA TODAY NETWORK
