This isn't exactly what Green Bay Packers fans had in mind when they hoped the team would address the cornerback position this offseason. After crossing their fingers hoping for Richard Sherman, Casey Hayward or a number of other corners, Green Bay is bringing back Kevin King on a one-year, $6 million deal, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
After struggling mightily in the NFC Championship Game in January while battling through injuries during the season, it had appeared the writing was on the wall for King as he entered free agency. Instead, amidst a lack of flexibility for the Packers to do much of anything given their salary cap woes, King is back in the fold.
While his performance in the NFC Championship Game was especially bad and not indicative of his overall performance throughout the season, the fourth-year corner did leave much to be desired.
A second-round pick out of Washington by Green Bay in 2017, King has never quite lived up to the expectations that many had. Much of that is due to his numerous injuries across his four seasons in the league. In four years, King has played 41 of a potential 64 regular-season games for Green Bay.
The Packers found themselves in a tricky spot. Outside of Jaire Alexander, there isn't much at the corner spot. Josh Jackson had been a healthy scratch for much of the second half of 2020 and Kevin King had hit free agency. Chandon Sullivan was given a tender and has emerged as a good slot corner. Bringing back King brings back familiarity for Green Bay but not exactly stability at the position.
This likely won't be the last move to address the cornerback position, as they could now set their focus on taking one early in the NFL Draft.