ESPN Ranks Former Bengals Jessie Bates III Among Top Five NFL Safeties

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler ranked former Bengals safety Jessie Bates III as the fourth-best safety in the NFL, highlighting his impact since signing a four-year, $64 million contract with the Falcons, where he has tallied 10 interceptions and 21 pass breakups. Despite criticism of lacking physicality during his time in Cincinnati, Bates has developed into a more complete player with 234 tackles over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, a separate ESPN poll named Kyle Hamilton the No. 1 safety in the NFL, praising his versatility and the Ravens' defensive improvements with him playing deep safety; other top safeties named included Brian Branch and Xavier McKinney, who recently signed a major contract with the Packers. In college football, Georgia's sophomore safety KJ Bolden, the top recruit of the 2024 class, was ranked the No. 5 safety nationally by Pro Football Focus entering the 2025 season, expected to fill the leadership void left by Malaki Starks' departure to the NFL. Bolden's impressive freshman year performance, featuring 59 tackles, a sack, and an interception, positions him as a key player for Georgia's defense in 2025. Overall, the safety position remains highly dynamic across college and the NFL with emerging talents and proven veterans making significant impacts.