Cleveland Browns: Five safeties to consider selecting at 2018 NFL Draft

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have an NFL-caliber player on the roster in redshirt sophomore Jessie Bates III. He may not be a household name, but he has the type of size, speed, and agility to be a high-quality player at free safety.

Beyond the physical tools that compare to Tre Boston and Reggie Nelson, he’s a well-rounded player who can fill multiple roles from his position.

Bates is an athletic and aggressive player who thinks the game at an advanced level. He only played the game for two seasons at the collegiate level, but he’s developed an understanding that most take significantly longer to discover.

Bates put those gifts to use by posting 177 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, and 10 passes defended between 2016 and 2017.

For the Cleveland Browns, Bates can be the playmaker in the secondary who allows Jabrill Peppers to play as more of a box safety. He can also bring support against the run, line up in man coverage, and even provide help for the Browns on special teams.

Bates would certainly be worth investing in at No. 64 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, but there’s a question worth asking: Will he still be available?