The Minnesota Vikings somewhat shockingly released linebacker Kobe King last season — a weird ordeal for a rookie drafted in April 2025. It didn't take long for King to land on his feet with the New York Jets , but seven months later, that relationship has ended, as well.
The Jets said goodbye to King on Monday, so it's back to the drawing board for the young defender.
Penn State linebacker Kobe King lines up against Boise State during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. On Dec. 31, 2024, King helped lead the Nittany Lions' defense in a College Football Playoff matchup, showcasing the physical style and downhill tackling ability that later drew NFL interest. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
King Out in NYJ
The Jets claimed King off waivers in late October, and it's sayonara in June. NBC Sports ' Josh Alper wrote Monday, "The Jets signed Younghoe Koo last week in a move that gave them three kickers on their 90-man roster. That number is set to drop down to two on Monday. Brian Costello of the New York Post reports that the Jets will waive Lenny Krieg , which will leave Koo and Cade York as their two kickers."
"Krieg began playing football in Germany and joined the NFL's International Player Pathway program in 2025. He spent last season on the Falcons' practice squad and signed with the Jets in January. Costello also reports that the Jets will waive linebacker Kobe King . That move will come with an injury designation."
King will now bide his time and eye a roster spot with some team this summer.
King's Production So Far
King played 3 defensive snaps in Minnesota before former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah dropped him like a bad habit. Landing with the Jets, King did not see any action on defense, but he became a special teams contributor, getting in on the action in 9 games for 142 special teams snaps.
All told, King banked 10 tackles as a rookie and ended up playing in 14 games last year between the Vikings and Jets.
NFL Draft Buzz noted on King before the 2025 NFL Draft: "Possesses elite run-stopping instincts with a natural feel for blocking schemes – consistently beats offensive linemen to their spot and disrupts rushing lanes before they develop. Downhill thumper who brings serious thunder to his tackles — watch the Michigan game where he consistently stopped runners dead in their tracks through sheer force."
"Shows outstanding stack-and-shed ability against guards and fullbacks, using powerful hands to maintain separation while tracking the ball carrier. Natural defensive quarterback who orchestrates pre-snap adjustments with veteran savvy – routinely puts teammates in position to make plays."
The NYJ LB Room without Him
What will New York do without King? Oh, it should get by just fine. Here's the ILB setup in June for Aaron Glenn's team:
Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Kiko Mauigoa
Jaden Keller
Chase Wilson
Paschal Ekeji
Sherwood and Davis are consistent and productive; after those two, the depth becomes skimpy, so Glenn must cultivate McCrary-Ball and Mauigoa in the event Sherwood or Davis succumb to injuries.
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn addresses reporters during minicamp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. During the June 10, 2025, media session, Glenn discussed offseason developments and roster evaluation as the Jets continued preparations for the upcoming regular season. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images.
The Ringer 's Diante Lee called the Jets the NFL's worst team this offseason, noting , "This franchise can accumulate all the draft picks it wants, bring in a seasoned offensive play caller (Frank Reich), and use its almost $80 million in cap space to bring in the kind of dependable veterans it needs to kick-start a rebuild. But these are the Jets we're talking about."
"They find themselves in the league's cellar because of their deep-seated incompetence, not luck or circumstance. The vibes on this team have stunk from the start of the offseason , when Aaron Glenn set out to replace basically his entire coaching staff, and it's hard to see morale improving anytime soon."
A Wasted Pick by MIN
King is unlikely to be a memorable player for Vikings fans years from now.
Most 6th- and 7th-Round draft picks quickly fade, and King's potential release in October 2025 didn't derail Minnesota's season. Nevertheless, in retrospect, the pick feels like a missed opportunity.
When the Vikings selected King in April 2025, several more intriguing prospects were still available. Players like Brashard Smith , Kyle Monangai , Tez Johnson , and Jacory Croskey-Merritt were all drafted after King, and any of them could have offered the Vikings a more exciting developmental prospect.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Kobe King brings down Tennessee Titans running back Kalel Mullings during a preseason game at Nissan Stadium. In the first half on Aug. 22, 2025, King delivered one of several defensive stops as Minnesota evaluated young defenders competing for roster spots ahead of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
While King being a Vikings bust isn't catastrophic — late-round picks often don't pan out — the Vikings effectively squandered that particular selection.
Meanwhile, the Vikings now have Nolan Teasley in the house as their new general manager. Perhaps the wasted draft picks will diminish. That's the goal.
Before too long, one NFL general manager will likely realize that he needs a special teams commodity for training camp and give King a call. That's usually how it works.
