Bengals nab ball hawk with Jessie Bates III in 2nd round

The Cincinnati Bengals have selected safety Jessie Bates III out of Wake Forest in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, 54th overall.

Bates' addition gives the Bengals a much-needed playmaker in the secondary after the team ranked 20th in the league with only 11 interceptions last season.

Jessie Bates Bio

Position: S
School: Wake Forest
College Experience: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 lbs

What the analysts are saying

• "Bates plays with energy and aggressiveness and is likely to fill a stat sheet with production thanks to his versatility and play traits. He should contribute early on defense and special teams and has a chance to become a good NFL starter." Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
• "Isn't elite in any one area, but he is well-rounded with the cover instincts, play range, and toughness versus the run to contribute to an NFL secondary." Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com

Athletic testing