It had been a while since the Cincinnati Bengals rostered an All-Pro player of any kind. Jessie Bates III started to realize that potential last season.
Bates’ 2020 season put him on the map as one of the more talented young defensive backs in the NFL. Pro Football Focus recently had him in the top 10 of their safety rankings.
Doug Farrar of The Touchdown Wire went a step further and Bates at the five spot in his top 11 list of safeties.
Listed above the likes of Anthony Harris, Harrison Smith, and John Johnson III, Bates has certainly earned this recognition.