CINCINNATI — Pro Football Focus writer Jonathon Macri dropped a breakout candidate for the Bengals following the 2025 NFL Draft: Safety Jordan Battle.

There is a clear starting path for Battle after Cincinnati made zero major safety additions this offseason.

“The Bengals have been toying with their starting safeties since Jessie Bates departed in free agency in 2023, but have a potential answer who has been patiently waiting in Battle,” Macri wrote. “The 2023 third-round pick took over the starting job late in his rookie season, ultimately finishing as a top-10-graded safety overall.

“Still, the team replaced him with veterans Vonn Bell and Geno Stone in 2024, and as Bell faltered, Battle once again earned back a starting job, though he didn’t grade nearly as strongly because the entire Bengals defense struggled last season. It appears that the team will finally deploy Battle as a Day 1 starter with a new defensive coordinator, which should help him get back to his rookie year form.”

Battle played solid ball down the stretch of the 2024 season and could parlay that into a breakout reality this fall.

The third-year player posted 66.3-plus PFF grade in three of the final four games of his sophomore campaign.