Houston Cougars cornerback William Jackson III (3) breaks up a pass intended for Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Travis Rudolph (15) during the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on December 31, 2015. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo

CINCINNATI -- Expectations heading into the 2016 NFL Draft were that the Cincinnati Bengals were looking for wide receivers, particularly in the first round. Instead, the Bengals went with a guy to cover receivers with their top choice.

The Bengals chose Houston cornerback William Jackson III with the No. 24 overall pick, making him the fifth cornerback taken in the first round by Cincinnati since 2006. He's the third cornerback the Bengals have picked in the first round in the last five years, joining Dre Kirkpatrick in 2012 and Darqueze Dennard in 2014. Jackson fits the Bengals' drafting philosophy with his size (6-0, 189) and his ability to play press coverage.


Jackson was credited with eight interceptions and 48 total pass breakups in three seasons with Houston, including 28 in 2015 to lead the nation. He was named the Peach Bowl Defensive MVP after making 10 tackles, intercepting two passes and breaking up two other pass attempts in Houston's 38-24 win against Florida State.

The Bengals lost wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu in free agency, departures that pushed the narrative of the team seeking a replacement with its first pick. Four receivers went off the board, including the three picks immediately ahead of the Bengals (Will Fuller to Houston, Josh Doctson to Washington and Laquon Treadwell to Minnesota), so that narrative changed.

The Cincinnati defense ranked No. 11 in yards allowed in 2015 but allowed just 17.4 points per game to rank No. 2 in the NFL. The Bengals predicate their defense on corners who can play man-to-man coverage and getting pressure on the opposing quarterback primarily from their defensive line. Jackson fits right into that strategy.

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