With their second round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, No. 54 overall, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates III.
Enquirer analysis
For the second consecutive year, the Bengals traded down in the second round. They traded eight spots down in this round to move up 22 in the third round by acquiring the 54th and 78th picks and trading No. 46 and No. 100.
As the second round played out with a run on offensive linemen and running backs, the Bengals had some debate in the war room -- and ultimately decided the better value for them was later in the second round where they took Bates.