Ravens need to avoid this CB prospect at all costs after 2024 NFL Combine

The Baltimore Ravens can use their draft capital to address their lack of depth in many key areas, but they might take an extra hard look at the secondary. With Marlon Humphrey the only above average corner and Geno Stone hitting free agency, Baltimore needs to make one more addition.

The Ravens saw defensive backs like Quinyon Mitchell and Nate Wiggins establish themselves as no-doubt first-round picks at the 2024 NFL Combine, but they saw just as many players put up athletic scores that were so concerning it will have an impact on their stock.

Perhaps no player has suffered a greater fall from where they were before the season started than Penn State cornerback Kalen King. After a brief run as CB1 and a first-round lock, King's poor season could knock him firmly down into the Day 3 range after a less than stellar combine.

King recorded a 4.61 40-yard dash with poor 10-yard splits, validating those who pinned his regression in 2023 on a lack of great long speed. The Ravens need to stay far away from King, unless they take a complete flier on him in the middle of Day 3. His days as an elite prospect are over.

The Baltimore Ravens must stay away from Kalen King after 2024 NFL Combine

King was dominant in the early parts of the 2022 season, but he found himself on the wrong end of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Roman Wilson highlights this season. There's a legitimate chance that Johnny Dixon, long regarded as the inferior of the two Nittany Lions starting cornerbacks, is picked ahead of him.

King looks like a physical corner who could make a name for himself with strong play at the line of scrimmage, but too many technique missteps last year left him unable to replicate his 2022 production. Physically, no one is doubting his ability. However, he can't seem to put it all together.

If the Ravens are looking to move away from Humphrey at some point in the near future due to his cost and injury problems, a bigger corner who can play well in an aggressive defense will be a necessity at some point in either free agency or the draft. If King was able to declare after 2022, he may have been that guy.

Unfortunately, King will likely need to fight his way up the depth chart of whichever non-Ravens team signs him.