Jessie Bates III was drafted No. 54 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. 130 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 55 career approximate value
2018 NFL Draft · Rd 2, Pick 22 · #54 overall
Jessie Bates III Wake Forest Draft
Jessie Bates III was drafted No. 54 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. 130 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 55 career approximate value
1× Pro Bowl
- Overall pick
- #54
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 2018
- NFL games
- 130
- Years as starter
- 8
- Career AV
- 553rd at Wake Forest
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How Jessie Bates III came off the board in 2018.
- Position
- Safety S
- College
-
Wake Forest
ACC at the draft
- Measurables
- 6'1" · 200 lbs
- Hometown
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Pre-draft board
- No. 53 prospect83.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
130 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 55 career approximate value
- Games played
- 130
- Seasons as a starter
- 8
- Career approximate value
- 553rd among Wake Forest picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2851% of career value
- Final season
- 20257 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 54
Who came off the board on either side of Jessie Bates III.
Rutgers
North Carolina
LSU
Florida
Wake Forest in the 2018 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Jessie Bates III in the 2018 NFL Draft
Jessie Bates III is a Safety out of Wake Forest selected No. 54 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft. 130 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 55 career approximate value Wake Forest has produced 65 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Jessie Bates III drafted?
Jessie Bates III was selected No. 54 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft (Rd 2, Pick 22). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2018/jessie-bates-iii.
What college did Jessie Bates III play for?
Jessie Bates III played college football at Wake Forest in the ACC. See every Wake Forest draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/wake-forest-demon-deacons.
How did Jessie Bates III's NFL career turn out?
130 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 55 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2018/jessie-bates-iii.