From now until the 2017 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
Desmond King/CB Iowa – 5’10 201
The Good
– Physical player and mentality, plays with an edge and embraces the run
– Good force defender to closed side against a TE, takes on blocks and keeps ball inside
– Reliable tackler who finishes each one with violence
– Shows good ball skills and hands, locates the football well, will take chances in coverage, and able to play the pocket in man coverage
– Better laterally than he is with his long speed, good change of direction ability and able to match in-breaking routes underneath
– Fluid hips in zone and man turn, quick feet
– Appears to be a highly conditioned player who rarely came off the field and was a big contributor on special teams
– Saw work as a kick and punt returner and served on field goal block team
– Experience in man, zone, playing in press, bail, and off
– Top notch level of starting experience
The Bad
– Size is only average, ditto with length (31 1/8 arms)
– Needs to show more physicality in press man
– Has to understand leverage better and do better job of discouraging/rerouting any release to his shade (not allowing clean inside release with inside leverage)
– Long speed is not great and have brought up questions of if he should move to safety
– Threat in open field as a punt returner but struggles to field the ball cleanly, being able to get square and under the ball with his first step going forward
– Bit of a down senior season and didn’t have a great Senior Bowl week
Bio
– 52 career starts
– Career: 263 tackles, 14 INTs, 9.