Breaking down the character of several 2025 NFL Draft prospects at the cornerback position.
You can never have enough cornerbacks in the NFL, and the Detroit Lions could be in the market for one as early as the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft . On Thursday at the NFL Combine , I spent a lot of time talking to cornerbacks of different sizes, backgrounds, and draft projection. And plenty claimed to have what the Lions love to see in their corners: grit.
Previous NFL Combine media recaps:
Cornerbacks
Kansas State CB Jacob Parrish
Parrish has been very productive in his last two seasons, producing five interceptions and 16 additional pass breakups. Though a tad undersized (5-foot-10, 198), Parrish believes the best aspect of his game is his physicality, and he’s a man coverage fiend.
“I love playing man coverage, that’s what I’m really good at, and I take pride in it,” Parrish said.
Indeed, the tape agrees. Per PFF, he ranked 28th among 264 cornerbacks in percentage of man coverage snaps (44.2) with a minimum of 270 snaps.
Growing up with a pair of twin brothers, the Parrish household was filled with wrestling tournaments, helping Jacob build a competitive nature. That has translated to a bulldog attitude on the field.
“I’m a physical guy,” Parris said. I might not be the biggest, but that’s my mindset. I grew up wrestling, so I love hitting. I love playing football.”
Kansas CB Cobee Bryant
Another undersized corner (6-foot, 175) who could probably add some bulk, Bryant displayed a ton of confidence at his presser, which matches his tenacious, physical style of play. He has drawn some comparisons to Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon, which he agrees with.
“He can hit hard. I watch his game some,” Bryant said. “Because I’m versatile, I want to watch nickel and I want to watch outside, so I kinda watch a lotta film on that.”
The most interesting answer he gave came when talking about his ball skills. He has 10 interceptions in three years, but while he takes pride in his interceptions, he admits that is not his priority when he’s out there.
“I try to do my technique first and then do what I gotta do,” Bryant said. “I just really want to help my team win the game. I don’t really worry about picks at all, I really just play my technique and just make plays for the defense.”
His press conference had a nice combination of confidence and humility.
Rutgers CB Robert Longerbeam
I wanted to talk with Longerbeam after looking into the background of his story. Not only was he highly productive on the field—39 passes defended over four seasons, including three with at least 10—but he was also named three-time Academic All-Big Ten.
A former receiver, Longerbeam likely projects as a nickel cornerback given his size (5-foot-11, 178), but he believes he can play both. And his superpower?
“Man-to-man.”
As a potential Day 3 pick, Longerbeam knows his route to playing time his rookie season is likely through special teams. There, he also has a ton of experience at the all-important gunner position.
“We coach it as the bridge between offense and defense, so definitely when I play gunner, (I) do whatever I can do to help a team.”
And if that all didn’t already make him sound like a Lion, he was voted team captain in 2024 by his teammates. I asked him what makes him such a good leader.
“I just build connection with guys,” Longerbeam said. I’m able to talk to anybody on our team, so when it’s time to have those tough conversations, it’s easy with you.
Iowa State Darien Porter
I had to get a big guy in (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), and Porter, too, had a unique story. Recruited to Iowa State as a wide receiver in 2019, making him 24 years old, you can see the maturity after spending just a few minutes with him.
He paid his dues at Iowa State, playing mostly as a special teamer until his final two seasons as a Cyclone. In his final year, he displayed a lot of growth: 18 tackles (2 for loss), three interceptions, and an additional two pass breakups—all while still logging 167 special teams snaps. The ball skills are no surprise given his receiver background. But he believes his off-man coverage took a big step in 2024.
“I attribute a lot of my progression just with repetition,” Porter said. “Being new to the position, it just takes time to get comfortable and keep repping things. It just comes with time.”
While Porter is still growing as a defensive back, he practiced daily against a pair of Iowa State receivers—Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel—who are both expected to go on Day 1 or Day 2 of this year’s draft.