Safety wasn’t viewed as a big need for the Bengals going into the NFL Draft, but it was an area they wanted another playmaker at.
That’s why they selected Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates with the 54th overall pick. Going into the draft, Bates was regarded as one of the best play-making safeties, and the Bengals needed to find a way to upgrade a secondary that didn’t force enough turnovers in 2017.
In two years (2016-17) of action at Wake Forest, Bates totaled 179 tackles, including 9.5 for losses with six interceptions, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles.