The Bengals took safety Jesse Bates III from Wake Forest with the No. 54 pick in the draft. They traded picks 46 and 100 to Kansas City for picks 54 and 77. Bates fills a need for Cincinnati.
Bates had five interceptions in 2016 and six passes defensed in 2017. Marvin Lewis' team has been looking for a deep safety with good ball skills. Bates described himself as a "film junkie" during his initial interview with the media.
Here's what draft analyst Lance Zierlein said about Bates III:
"Versatile safety option with the athletic ability to handle man coverage responsibilities in space and the instincts and ball skills to post ball production in zone coverage. Bates is more than willing as a hitter, but can get himself in trouble as an open-field tackler due to inconsistent pursuit angles and technique. 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."
Watch some highlights below.