2017 NFL Draft Daily Chicago Bears Target: Iowa defensive back Desmond King
The Chicago Bears need playmakers in the defensive secondary. They can get that help in the 2017 NFL Draft by getting Iowa defensive back Desmond King.
The Chicago Bears‘ front seven performed well in the 2016 season. Where they had some trouble was with their secondary. Injuries hampered the play at cornerback and safety. They need some depth at those positions. That help can come from the 2017 NFL Draft in the name of Desmond King.
The 5-foot-10, 210 pound Iowa cornerback was the Jim Thorpe Award winner, a Consensus All-American, and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. He recorded 72 tackles, broke up 13 passes and intercepted 8 passes.
Many expected King to go pro after that great season, but he decided that getting a degree was just as important as playing on Sundays.
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King didn’t have quite the same season in 2016, though it was still a good one. He had 58 tackles, 3 interceptions, and seven pass breakups. A big reason for that, however, was the fact that quarterbacks avoided him.
One of the things that attract the Bears to King is his durability. He was a four-year starter, and he played in 94 percent of the defensive snaps. He also played in about half of the special teams plays, where he returned kicks and punts for the Hawkeyes.
King is an athletic defensive back with great instincts for the ball. He can diagnose plays quickly and is very agile. Also, he plays with great passion and is a physical player. His vision is excellent, and that helps him as he returns kickoffs and punts.
With his lack of size, many scouts project King to switch over to safety at the pro level. The receivers he’d face on the outside are tall, so that’s a disadvantage for him. He could play the slot, but if he wants to play consistently, the move to safety would be good for him.
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At any rate, he could help a team at multiple positions — slot corner, safety, or special teams. That gives a defensive coordinator many options, and one like Vic Fangio could definitely take advantage of that. Plus, he is a football junkie so he’ll live in the film room to make himself better.