BENGALS

Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft strategy: Safety a surprise need

Paul Dehner Jr.
Cincinnati Enquirer
Texas Longhorns safety DeShon Elliot (4) returns an interception against Texas Christian Horned Frogs running back Kyle Hicks (21).

In this 12-part series, the Enquirer looks at the strategy for the Bengals' 2018 draft by counting down positional needs from least pressing to most immediate. Bengals beat writers Jim Owczarski and Paul Dehner, Jr. analyze top players, sleepers, Bengals history, fits and what other experts say. The draft is April 26-28 in Dallas.

Positional Priority

Five of 12. Contracts would suggest the Bengals are set for a while at this position. Not the case. Despite signing George Iloka and Shawn Williams to long-term deals in recent offseasons, the team has grown uncomfortable. They made an aggressive pursuit of free-agent safety Kurt Coleman during free agency but eventually lost out to New Orleans. Still, aggression showed they are looking for new personnel and are less than committed to Iloka, in particular, for the long term.

Contract status

A glance at what year the current players at the position are signed through and their age on opening day:

2018

  • Josh Shaw (26)

2019

  • Robensen Therezie (27)
  • Clayton Fejedelem (25)

2020

  • George Iloka (28)
  • Shawn Williams (27)
  • Brandon Wilson (24)

Rate the class

For the second straight year, we should see two safeties in the top 15. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama, is a jack-of-all-trades in the secondary and Derwin James, Florida State, a more prototypical safety. Beyond that, the Bengals will be searching for playmakers who can range the back of the defense and pull in picks, of which there are a few.  

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Bengals’ trend

The primary trend involves not valuing the position. They’ve never selected a safety in the first round under Marvin Lewis and only once selected one in the first two rounds (Madieu Williams, 2004). The vast majority have been late-round prospects. 

Recent draft history

  • Year, Round, Overall: Player, School
  • 2012, 5c, 167 overall: George Iloka, Boise State
  • 2013, 3, 84 overall: Shawn Williams, Georgia
  • 2015, 6, 197 overall: Derron Smith, Fresno State
  • 2016, 7, 245 overall: Clayton Fejedelem, Illinois 
  • 2017, 6, 207 overall: Brandon Wilson, Houston
Cincinnati Bengals free safety George Iloka (43) takes the field as he's introduced before the first quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Chicago Bears at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. At halftime the Bears led 12-7.

Key variable

Free agent market. The Bengals aggressively pursued Kurt Coleman in free agency before losing out to New Orleans. They brought Eric Reid in for a visit. That did not go well. They are clearly chasing veteran help at the position. Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccarro are still out there, though, Boston would be a better fit for the playmaking safety they desire. Do they plan on making a play on a veteran safety still sitting out there after the draft? If they do, the need won't be this high. If they aren't inspired by what's left, look for an early push. 

PFF College Research

Once a pass is completed, the safety can't miss a tackle or disaster strikes. Who were the most efficient tacklers in the passing game last year among draft prospects? PFF broke it down (minimum 300 passing snaps). 

  • Player, school: Tackles per miss in pass coverage
  • Chris Lammons, South Carolina: 51.0
  • Quin Blanding, Virginia: 35.0
  • Sean Chandler, Temple: 34.0
  • Hootie Jones, Alabama: 29.0
  • Robert Taylor, Washington State: 27.0

Sleepers to track

Jessie Bates, Wake Forest. Maybe sleeper would be the wrong section for Bates. He will be an early-round pick. He's not the freak athlete you typically see at this position high in the draft, but he worked his way into a top prospect after being lightly recruited out of high school. He brings versatility along with instincts to make plays and burst to carry it out. Plus, the Steelers are interested and pilfering from them always makes sense in Cincinnati. 

Natrell Jamerson, Wisconsin. When his eyes are on the quarterback looking to make a play on the ball, he's at his best. The rest of his game will push him down draft boards, but that trait might be enough to catch the Bengals' interest late in the draft. 

Bold move

Justin Reid, Stanford. Intelligent, instinctive player with serious playmaking ability. He could enter and compete with Iloka for the starting job immediately or rotate into sub-packages. Could need to pull the trigger at No. 21 but could potentially be available at 46. Either way, this would be outside of the normal thinking for the Bengals but show a feeling of how close they are on defense to having a dominant group.

Stanford Cardinal safety Justin Reid (8) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against UCLA.

They said it

Marvin Lewis on what the team wants out of the safety position in 2018: 

"We have to get more playmaking." 

NFL Media's draft analyst Bucky Brooks on the changing needs of scouting the safety position: 

"Before you were looking for the big, physical guy to come and be the eighth guy in the box, that can be an effective run defender and really make his play sometimes near the line of scrimmage. Now, with the more teams going 11 personnel, one back, three wide receivers, you need those safeties to be able to play comfortably in space, to be able to have the skills to play in man-to-man and zone in the open field, have ball skills to be able to kind of turn the ball over, while also still possessing those skills as tacklers and run defenders. It's really a hard job to find the right kind of guys that have that versatility." 

Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus: 

"Derwin James may be the best defensive playmaker in this entire draft across all positions." 

Where they’ll take one

There will be intrigue in the second round. If one of the top safeties slides, the Bengals will be interested. They have a desire to play more three-safety looks and light a fire under George Iloka. An early pick could do that. I just don't think the board will break that way for them. Look for a third-day selection here. The Bengals want to address the spot, but other needs will probably trump it early in the draft barring a big slip of someone into their lap. Will be even more interesting if they don't get one until late to see if they dive into the free-agent market to bail them out. 

Our prediction

Fifth round: DeShon Elliot, Texas. If it’s playmaking production you want, look no farther than Elliot. He picked off six passes and ranked in the top 10 in pass breakups last season. He showed a knack for always knowing where the ball or tipped pass would go and making the play. His overall athletic profile and issues in coverage will probably push him back into the third day of the draft, but if it’s about getting more interceptions and plays on the football, Elliot has shown it.