Iowa cornerback Desmond King has dominated the Big Ten for long enough. After deciding to return for his senior year despite receiving first-round buzz, King has now solidified himself as one of the more polished defensive backs in the draft.
In an ultra-rich class of cornerbacks, it’s easy to overlook King, who would have likely been a top-20 player in another class. King’s game is not physicality, great length or blazing speed.
However, where King wins is with outstanding instincts, understanding of the nuances of the game and a tough football mentality that won’t shy away from contact. Because of this, King has started to make a shift to the back end of the defense at safety.
It’s a wise decision; that is, jumping out of the pool of talented cornerbacks and now separating himself as one of the top safety choices at an ever growing position of need for NFL teams in a pass-happy NFL.
I saw King talking with multiple teams throughout the week-long event, but the Baltimore Ravens seemed to give King more attention than anyone else. This makes sense, considering the state of the Ravens secondary. Adding him to the mix with Jimmy Smith while letting him learn from one of the league’s best safeties Eric Weddle would make for a good landing spot.
