With The First Pick
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NFL Draft: Five rookies who had quietly strong seasons in 2017

By Maxwell Ogden

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 14: Marcus Williams #43 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball after a interception against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 14: Marcus Williams #43 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball after a interception against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers

Drafted: Round 5, Pick 151
Position: Cornerback
Season Statistics: 16 games played, 76 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 1 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 1 defensive touchdown
Pro Football Focus Grade: 86.5

Marshon Lattimore and Tre’Davious White deserve the mountains of praise that they received in 2017. The football world seems to be overlooking another exceptional young cornerback, however, in Los Angeles Chargers standout Desmond King.

King may not have stolen headlines like Lattimore or White, but he was one of the best cornerback in the NFL at defending the run—rookie or otherwise.

King played in a star-studded secondary with fellow cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Trevor Williams. He received 717 snaps, however, and excelled in both pass coverage and run defense during a criminally underrated rookie season.

Only four cornerbacks recorded more tackles in run defense than King, and no other player even came close to King’s stop percentage of 5.9.

Pro Football Focus rated King as the No. 14 cornerback in the NFL, which is testament enough to how well he played. He was one of 12 cornerbacks who received ratings of 80.0 or better in pass coverage and run defense, and the numbers were an accurate reflection of his contributions.

Throw in the fact that King was one of the best slot defenders in the NFL, and he’s estabilshed that he’s well on his way to a long and rewarding career.

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