Considerably undersized for an NFL quarterback, with a slight, vulnerable frame
Injury prone; season-ending shoulder injury in his final season in Miami. Playing style leaves him open to bigger hits and there are serious durability concerns at the next level
Accuracy issues on deeper throws borne out of poor footwork and inconsistent base
Arm strength in question – can it improve with better technique and throwing posture?
Takes more sacks than you’d care for – disregards internal clock as he banks on his legs to escape
The Verdict:
“In 2018, the world watched as a young kid from Manvel, Texas turned college football upside down. D’Eriq King was the next Lamar Jackson, a transcendent talent whose ability to tear defenses apart with both his arm and his legs had Houston fans delirious. Since then, things haven’t quite gone to script for King, who transferred to Miami following Dana Holgorsen’s arrival in Houston. The Hurricanes have struggled for twenty years to recapture the good times, and King wasn’t able to help them; injury and inconsistency blighted a career that was once so promising and presumably ended in him suiting up on Sundays. That’s far from guaranteed now as he vies to prove to NFL scouts he can stay on the field and work on some underdeveloped mechanics that for too long he masked with his unreal athletic ability. King will likely get drafted late by a team looking to pair a backup with a similar skillset to their starter.”
PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST.