The Green Bay Packers effectively transitioned out of the Aaron Rodgers era in 2023, putting up a great season in which they lost out on the NFC Championship by only three points. The Packers’ successful drafting during the Brian Gutekunst era contributed significantly to their becoming the youngest team to win a playoff game. Since becoming general manager of the Green Bay Packers, Gutekunst has drafted numerous star-caliber players such as cornerback Jaire Alexander, edge rusher Rashan Gary, offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, as well as many promising players, particularly in recent drafts.
Even in the seventh round, the Packers unearthed promising talents. Most recently, they selected Carrington Valentine, a promising starting cornerback, in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. In 2024, the Packers approached the seventh round with a cornerback in mind, like they had the previous year.
Corner Back Kalen King falls to the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round.
Kalen King burst onto the college football scene after his rookie year in 2022. In his second season, he jumped up draft boards with an astounding 18 pass breakups and three interceptions in only nine starts. Unfortunately for King, he was unable to find that ball productivity during his third and final collegiate season. In 2023, he started 12 games and had only two pass breakups, yet King was chosen second-team All-Big Ten Defense.
Despite the productivity halt, the Green Bay Packers rated him too high to allow him to enter the UDFA market.
Kalen King Could Become A Starter For The Green Bay Packers
Kalen King demonstrated excellent traits throughout his collegiate career, despite his average size and overall athleticism. King shown the ability to create difficulties for receivers through his press release and opportune swipeaways, which complements his exceptional game speed and open gait. He has exhibited the ability to maneuver in space and meet running backs in the gap with intent, but due to his lack of strength, he is unable to escape from larger blockers.
King is also a willing tackler who enjoys flying downhill, but he will need to improve his technique and receive proper coaching.
Kalen King has a lot of potential to improve in the mental aspect of cornerbacking, failing to maintain attention in crowded spaces and comprehending what the quarterback is thinking. His change of direction fails him when confronted with double moves, and his strength must be strengthened to compete with the force of the NFL. But given what King has shown, it is astonishing that he only made it to the seventh round, even though it appeared that this was exactly what King needed.
“It’s extremely motivating,” King said of his NFL draft experience. “Not going where you thought you would go, seeing all the names being picked ahead of you, just enduring all that, seeing that and I felt like it put a chip on my shoulder, a permanent chip on my shoulder that I gotta keep there.”
“I felt like the Packers are going to get one of the most competitive guys in the country, a tough corner, physical corner who’s going to give 100% effort around the field at all times and make as many plays as I possibly can by doing it at 100%.”
If the Green Bay Packers do choose such a competitive and talented prospect, King has a good chance of developing into one of the top late-round players in the 2024 draft.
