Bengals can land a schematic fit for Al Golden's defense with one of the youngest defensive backs in the 2025 NFL Draft
Cornerback might be a position the Cincinnati Bengals don't spend too much time retooling this offseason. It largely depends on the recovery of Dax Hill, who suffered a torn ACL last October, and the belief that one of Cam Taylor-Britt or DJ Turner II will leave no doubts about starting in Al Golden's new defense. Figuring out […]
Cornerback might be a position the Cincinnati Bengals don't spend too much time retooling this offseason. It largely depends on the recovery of Dax Hill, who suffered a torn ACL last October, and the belief that one of Cam Taylor-Britt or DJ Turner II will leave no doubts about starting in Al Golden's new defense.
Figuring out the slot is where things could get interesting. Mike Hilton is an impending free agent about to turn 31, so the best bet is he lands elsewhere in March. Josh Newton earned a good amount of trust playing as a rookie last season and looks like an ideal replacement for Hilton after the latter spent four years locking down the position.
The Bengals have thrown a good amount of NFL Draft capital at this group, and part of why Golden was hired is to maximize the investments that were already made. But that doesn't mean drafting a corner is completely off the table, especially if value presents itself in the middle rounds.
As we continue to hone in on under-the-radar draft prospects the Bengals should be interested in with the NFL Scouting Combine right around the corner, let's talk about a corner who could fit well in a Golden-coordinated scheme.
Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish checks more boxes than you'd expect for a Bengals cornerback
Intrigue is all over Parrish's background. A standout at Kansas' Olathe North High School who played running back, wide receiver, and cornerback, he received college offers from Army, Air Force, Dartmouth, North and South Dakota State, and just regular North Dakota. The armed forces and Ivy League had their eyes on the three-star recruit, but Parrish chose Manhattan and stayed much closer to home.
Unlike many non-first round prospects in this class, Parrish's true freshman season was in 2022 and he played immediately. He on the ball, in the box, and in the slot along with standard cornerback alignment as a freshman before increasing his presence at all those spots as a starter in 2023. He racked up 44 tackles, four interceptions, and a team-high 13 passes defensed as a true sophomore and was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. He earned that same accolade in his third and final season in 2024 thanks to another interception and eight more passes defensed. His three PBUs against Cincinnati were the most a Wildcat had recorded in a game since 2021.
As of this posting, Parrish isn't even 21 years old yet. He was born on leap day in 2004, so he'll either celebrate his birthday a day before or after he tests at next week's NFL Scouting Combine. He'll have to wait until 2028 to celebrate the actual date again. The A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database has him at No. 104 in this class, putting him in the range of a late third-round and early fourth-round selection.
Numbers to know for Jacob Parrish
Senior Bowl Measurements:
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 196
Arm: 31.25"
Hand: 8.875"
If Parrish has a dating profile, his height would say 5'10". His height and weight will put him near the small end of the spectrum for modern-day cornerbacks, but 31.25" arms is adequate length for that size. For reference, Taylor-Britt clocked in at 5'11" and 196 with 31.5" arms at the 2022 combine. The Bengals don't have very strict size thresholds at the cornerback position, so there's nothing really to cross off here.
43.6% reception rate allowed in man coverage in 2024: Despite his smaller stature, Parrish fit right in with KSU's press man-heavy scheme. 44.2% of his coverage snaps were man-to-man and he made life difficult for receivers in one-on-one situations. Only Colorado's Travis Hunter a likely top-3 pick and Oklahoma State's Korie Black played man more often and had a higher Pro Football Focus coverage grade in the scheme than Parrish's 64.8. He also missed just one tackle on pass plays in either man or zone coverage last year.
Jacob Parrish film spark notes
Former A to Z Sports film savant James Foster knows what he's talking about. Parrish never shied away from a challenge at the line of scrimmage and had the quickness and agility to stay in phase. Play strength often goes overlooked for cornerbacks, but receivers are only getting bigger, faster, and stronger at the next level. Being able to disrupt them at the beginning and middle of their routes will always be a coveted trait. Parrish does this better than most in this class and has the experience to back it up.
As we ponder how much Golden's man-heavy scheme will evolve in the NFL, Parrish fits the bill of a cornerback he would've used at Notre Dame. He can press, he can live in a receiver's hip pocket, he can find the ball, and he can tackle. His press technique may have to be refined in the pros, and he may not have the long speed to last on the outside, but that may be alright for a Bengals secondary in need of a long-term slot defender.
Before the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, we'll go over one sleeper player at each position of need for the Bengals. Read up on Kansas OT Logan Brown, Oregon NT Jamaree Caldwell, Texas Tech TE Jalin Conyers, Boise State DE Ahmed Hassanein, Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter, Cincinnati G Luke Kandra, and check back to A to Z Sports Cincinnati this week for the latest installments.
Bengals’ thirst for pass rush could lead them to drafting one of the cleanest character profiles in the 2025 NFL Draft
A highly-productive pass rusher with a unique background.
