Where will Kansas State football players go in the NFL draft? Here are some projections
If there is any question that NFL draft predictions are an inexact science, look no further than Kansas State football safety Marques Sigle.
While Sigle, one of three Wildcats appearing on most mock draft boards, is a consensus late-round selection in this weekend's draft, one prognosticator has him going as early as the third round. Then there is running back DJ Giddens, who is projected to go anywhere from the third to the fifth rounds, a span of about 170 picks.
Advertisement
The only relative certainty about Sigle, Giddens, and cornerback Jacob Parrish, K-State's highest-rated prospect, is that they won't need to tune in for the opening round on Thursday.
The 2025 NFL Draft gets underway at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday for Round 1. Rounds 2-3 start at 6 p.m. Friday, and Rounds 4-7 wrap things up with an 11 a.m. start Saturday. All seven rounds will be televised on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, with streaming available on ESPN+ and NFL+.
Related: Kansas State football assistant Brian Lepak embraces new challege with offensive line
Related: Kansas State football is taking proposed new roster limits seriously
Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (10) celebrates with teammates Marques Sigle (21) and Asa Newsom (23) after intercepting a pass during last year's game against Oklahoma State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Parrish, Giddens, and Sigle all participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in late February and early March and performed well. Parrish and Giddens are virtual locks to hear their names called on Friday or Saturday, while experts suggest that Sigle could have some anxious moments when the seventh round rolls around.
Advertisement
Here are some projections for K-State's top NFL prospects as of Tuesday, April 22:
CB Jacob Parrish (5-10, 191 pounds)
The Athletic: 3rd round, 84th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
ESPN: 3rd round, 87th overall to the Green Bay Packers.
NFL.com: 4th round, 115th overall to the Arizona Cardinals.
Pro Football Focus: 3rd round, 90th overall to the Los Angeles Rams.
Sporting News: 4th round, 111th overall to the Carolina Panthers.
Parrish was a two-year starter and K-State's No. 1 cornerback as a junior in 2024, recording a career-high 50 tackles with one interception and seven pass breakups. He had three interceptions and nine PBUs as a junior in 2023, when he was challenged more frequently by opposing offenses.
Advertisement
Parrish turned heads with his athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. He showed his ability on special teams as a true freshman reserve in 2022, which gives him added value in the NFL.
RB DJ Giddens (6-1, 212 pounds)
The Athletic: 4th round, 128th overall to the Washington Commanders.
ESPN: 3rd round, 94th overall to the Cleveland Browns.
NFL.com: 5th round, 165th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pro Football Focus: 3rd round, 97th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
Sporting News: 4th round, 138h overall to the San Francisco 49ers.
Giddens is another early draft entry after rushing for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns while breaking the school single-season record with 6.55 yards per carry. After backing up All-American Deuce Vaughn as a redshirt freshman, he was a two-year starter for the Wildcats, and in three seasons, he moved into third place on the school's career rushing list with 3,087 yards.
Advertisement
Giddens graded out well at the NFL Scouting Combine by running a 4.43 40-yard dash and ranking near the top among running backs in both the vertical and broad jumps at 6 feet, 212 pounds. He also caught 50 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns in his last two seasons.
S Marques Sigle (5-11, 199 pounds)
The Athletic: 7th round, 255th overall to the Cleveland Browns.
ESPN: 7th round, 217th overall to the Dallas Cowboys.
NFL.com: 3rd round, 84th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pro Football Focus: 7th round, 230th overall to the Carolina Panthers.
Sigle was a starter both years at K-State after transferring from North Dakota State, recording 60 tackles with three interceptions and 6.5 tackles for loss as a senior in 2024. He tied for the team lead with 63 tackles in 2023.
Advertisement
Sigle's 40-yard dash time of 4.37 was among the fastest by a safety at the combine. As a former cornerback, he has the versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary at the next level as well as contribute on special teams. NFL.com predicting that Sigle goes in the third round was an outlier, with most other outlets slotting him in the seventh.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: NFL Draft 2025: A look at where Kansas State football players might go
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packers to reportedly release 2-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers are cutting ties with cornerback Jaire Alexander. The two-time Pro Bowler will reportedly be released Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It marks quite the fall for Alexander, a former first-round draft pick who was one of the team's best players as recently as the 2022 season, when he was selected to his second Pro Bowl. But injuries have plagued Alexander over the past two years. Back and shoulder issues limited Alexander to seven games in 2023. A knee issue caused Alexander to play in just seven games in 2024. Advertisement Prior to those injuries, Alexander had emerged as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. After a promising rookie season in 2018, Alexander started in all 16 games in his second season. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020 and was second team All-Pro. He was limited to just four games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury, but bounced back in 2022 to play in all 16 games, once again earning Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro team honors. After signing a four-year, $84 million extension in 2022, Alexander was set to make over $16 million in 2025. The Packers reportedly offered Alexander a restructured deal in May, which would have resulted in Alexander taking a pay cut. It appears Alexander did not want to take that deal, leading to his reported release. The last two seasons in which Alexander played double-digit games, he made the Pro Bowl. That should give the 28-year-old multiple options now that he's reportedly hit the free-agent market. Given his injury struggles, Alexander may need to settle for a short-term deal. If he can stay healthy and return to form, Alexander could fetch a much larger contract on the market next season.
Washington Post
21 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Jim Irsay's three daughters will take over ownership of the Colts, team says
The three daughters of late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will take over ownership of the franchise, the team announced Monday. Irsay's eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will succeed her father as the team's principal owner and will have the title of chief executive officer, the Colts said. The Colts said that 'all three sisters will share leadership duties for the club,' adding that the ownership transition was being done 'pursuant to longstanding plans set forth by Jim Irsay.' The new roles and titles for the three women are 'effective immediately,' according to the team.
USA Today
22 minutes ago
- USA Today
Texas Longhorns opponents on 2025 schedule ranked by ESPN FPI
Texas Longhorns opponents on 2025 schedule ranked by ESPN FPI ESPN has released its FPI rankings for 2025. How do the super computers in Bristol, CT rank the 12 teams on the Texas Longhorns schedule? According to ESPN, the Football Power Index (FPI) "is a predictive rating system that estimates each FBS team's strength (in points per game relative to the national average) on offense, defense and special teams, making adjustments for starters lost, recruiting talent and other personnel changes. Those numbers are then plugged into the schedule, and everything is simulated 20,000 times to track each team's odds of winning its conference, making the playoff and advancing through to the national title." After the 20,000 simulations, the Longhorns are the No. 1 team in the nation. Texas has the top FPI rating at 28.5. ESPN gives the Longhorns an 8.9% chance of going undefeated with a projected record of 10.4-2.1. UT has a 34.1% to win the SEC, an 83.9% chance of making the 12-team college football playoff, an astounding 37.7% chance to make the national title game and a 24.1% chance to win it all. Here's how Texas' 2025 opponents rank: FPI Rating : 26.6 (No. 2) : 26.6 (No. 2) Projected W/L : 10.1-2.3 : 10.1-2.3 Playoff chances : 78.6% : 78.6% Make national title chances : 30% : 30% Win national title chances: 17.9% Comment: The fact Texas must face the No. 2 team on the FPI makes the Georgia game even tougher. 2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Aug. 30) FPI Rating : 23.8 (No. 4) : 23.8 (No. 4) Projected W/L : 10.4-2.2 : 10.4-2.2 Playoff chances : 70.6% : 70.6% Make national title chances : 21.3% : 21.3% Win national title chances: 10.8% Comment: The Buckeyes are the fourth highest ranked team and another tough road test for the Horns. FPI Rating : 17.9 (No. 8) : 17.9 (No. 8) Projected W/L : 8.1-4.1 : 8.1-4.1 Playoff chances : 34.3% : 34.3% Make national title chances : 5.5% : 5.5% Win national title chances: 2.3% Comment: The numbers really drop off once you get to past the Top 10. The Aggies only have a 34% chance of making the playoff. 4. Oklahoma Sooners (Oct. 11) FPI Rating : 14.6 (No. 16) : 14.6 (No. 16) Projected W/L : 6.9-5.1 : 6.9-5.1 Playoff chances : 18.4% : 18.4% Make national title chances : 2.2% : 2.2% Win national title chances: 0.8% Comment: OU has a new QB in John Mateer but ESPN's algorithm projects the Sooners a long way from winning a title. FPI Rating : 14.3 (No. 18) : 14.3 (No. 18) Projected W/L : 6.4-5.6 : 6.4-5.6 Playoff chances : 14.5% : 14.5% Make national title chances : 1.6% : 1.6% Win national title chances: 0.7% Comment: Florida should be better than last year. Texas will play the Gators in the Swamp to open SEC play. FPI Rating : 7.6 (No. 22) : 7.6 (No. 22) Projected W/L : 6.1-5.9 : 6.1-5.9 Playoff chances : 8.2% : 8.2% Make national title chances : 0.7% : 0.7% Win national title chances: 0.3% Comment: The Razorbacks come to Austin for the first time in over 20 years. FPI Rating : 10.8 (No. 34) : 10.8 (No. 34) Projected W/L : 5.6-6.4 : 5.6-6.4 Playoff chances : 3.3% : 3.3% Make national title chances : 0.1% : 0.1% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: The Wildcats are the first team on this list projected to have a losing record. 8. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Oct. 25) FPI Rating : 3.8 (No. 52) : 3.8 (No. 52) Projected W/L : 4.4-7.6 : 4.4-7.6 Playoff chances : 0.7% : 0.7% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: The Bulldogs might be slightly better in 2025, but Hail State will still be one of the worst teams in the SEC. 9. Vanderbilt Commodores (Nov. 1) FPI Rating : 3.4 (No. 56) : 3.4 (No. 56) Projected W/L : 3.2-8.8 : 3.2-8.8 Playoff chances : 0.9% : 0.9% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: Vanderbilt gave Texas a very tough game last year in Nashville. This year the Commodores travel to DKR. 10. San Jose State Spartans (Sept. 6) FPI Rating : -6.9 (No. 93) : -6.9 (No. 93) Projected W/L : 3.2-8.8 : 3.2-8.8 Playoff chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: The Spartans are the best of the cupcakes on the schedule. 11. Sam Houston Bearkats (Sept. 20) FPI Rating : -10.7 (No. 111) : -10.7 (No. 111) Projected W/L : 5.2-7.0 : 5.2-7.0 Playoff chances : 0.4% : 0.4% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: Former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo takes over the Bearkats still struggling to find their footing in FBS. 12. UTEP Miners (Sept. 13) FPI Rating : -15.6 (No. 130) : -15.6 (No. 130) Projected W/L : 4.9-7.2 : 4.9-7.2 Playoff chances : 0.1% : 0.1% Make national title chances : 0.0% : 0.0% Win national title chances: 0.0% Comment: UTEP is ranked as one of the worst teams in FBS by ESPN's computers.
