King signs rookie pact
First-year players finish orientation
GREEN BAY – Cornerback Kevin King, the Green Bay Packers’ first pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, signed a contract Thursday, the team announced.
Last year, the Packers didn’t sign their firstround pick, defensive lineman Kenny Clark, until June 17.
King, the 33rd overall selection out of Washington, became the sixth of the Packers’ 10 draft picks to sign. Previously, the Packers announced the signing of wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey and running back Aaron Jones (both fifth-round selections), guard Kofi Amichia (sixth round) and their two seventhround picks, running back Devante Mays and wide receiver Malachi Dupre.
After taking this week off, King and the rest of the Packers’ rookies will return and join the veterans for the final week of Phase 2 of the off-season conditioning schedule. Starting May 22, the team will begin a four-week stretch that will consist of 10 organized team activities (OTAs) and a threeday minicamp.
The rookie orientation gave draft picks such as King a chance to bond with fellow first-year players before being thrown into a locker room full of 90 players.
“I think this is good,” King said of the rookie gathering. “I’ll have a long time with those guys. Kind of getting the rookies in here and getting everybody acclimated, I think it’s good to kind of get our feet wet with each other.
“We’re all great players on our own, so we’re all coming into this league as well. We’re all NFL players. The talent is there. Just going through it together I think is good.”
When the rookies come back, the pace will be fast and they will be expected to keep up with the veterans. But coach Mike McCarthy typically installs the offense and defense during the final four weeks of the off-season program and then re-installs at the start of training camp.
For the rookies, it’s a chance to get back to football after spending the past six months working on improving their combine testing numbers.
“Going through all this draft process, it’s long,” King said. “I’m glad I was able to go through it, but I’m glad that it’s done. I’m ready to work. I’m ready to put my all into this.”
Training-camp opener: The Packers will report to training camp July 26, with the first practice set for the following day, the team said Thursday.
Because of ongoing work to prepare Ray Nitschke Field for training camp, the Packers said it will be standingroom only for fans attending the OTAs and mandatory minicamp sessions that are open to the public. Those sessions will be conducted on Clarke Hinkle Field, and fans will be permitted to watch while standing along the Oneida St. side of the field.
The OTA dates that are open to the public will be Tuesday, May 23; Thursday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 6 (weather permitting).
The Packers’ minicamp will run from Tuesday, June 13 through Thursday, June 15 and will be open to the public if weather permits.
Early expectations: Oddsmakers expect the Packers to be among the NFL’s winningest teams during the 2017 season, but they have company.
The Packers’ win total was projected to be among the league’s top five, according to overunder odds placed this week by online sports betting agency Bovada. The Packers’ over/under of 10 projected wins tied the Oakland Raiders for fourth most in the NFL, behind the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots (12.5), the Seattle Seahawks (10.5) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10.5).
No other teams were projected for double-digit wins.
It’s an early glimpse at which teams oddsmakers believe are favorites to win Super Bowl LII in February. For the Packers, it’s also familiar territory. Since their last Super Bowl title in 2010, the Packers have tied for the league lead in preseason projected win totals four times: 2011, ’12, ’15 and ’16.
They were given an over/under of 10.5 wins by Bovada last season before finishing 10-6, good enough to win the NFC North title.
The Packers will play two of their fellow topfive members. They host the Seahawks at Lambeau Field to open the 2017 season Sept. 10. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, they travel to Pittsburgh.