Jordan Battle is the Bengals’ most Underrated Player, according to PFF

Battle is poised to be a leader in the Bengals secondary.

A key piece to the Cincinnati Bengals‘ success in 2024 will be the play of their secondary. It has to be better after allowing the most explosive plays of any NFL team in 2023.

Despite its struggles, there were some bright spots. One of those bright spots is rookie safety Jordan Battle. Recently, Pro Football Focus named Battle as the Bengals’ most underrated player.

Zoltán Buday, the author of the PFF article, mentions how Battle became a starter in Week 11 and earned the ninth-highest grade among all safeties for the final eight weeks of the NFL season at 80.7.

The Bengals’ third-round draft pick in 2023 had a solid rookie season, making 71 tackles, including 43 solo, defending five passes, recording two sacks, and intercepting a pass in the season finale against Cleveland.

Battle was one of three rookies named to PFF’s list, the other two being Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. Pace is a Cincinnati native, playing high school football at Colerain and college football at Miami and Cincinnati.

The Bengals’ secondary will look different again this season after Chidobe Awuzie signed with the Tennesee Titans in free agency. One of the biggest splashes in free agency was the Bengals signing safety Geno Stone, who led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2023 while with the Baltimore Ravens.

In addition, the Bengals brought back veteran safety Vonn Bell on a one-year deal worth six million dollars.

These additions add talent and experience to the Bengals’ secondary. Where that puts Battle in the rotation remains to be seen. But Battle proved himself to be a bright spot as a rookie in a secondary that struggled after the departures of Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III following the 2022 season.

Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo showcases versatility within the secondary, with third-year defensive back Dax Hill now making the move to cornerback. Could that open a spot with more snaps at safety for Battle? Where does Vonn Bell fit into that mix?

Regardless, Battle stood out in a young secondary in 2023. Now with a season under his belt, combined with a healthier and beefed-up defensive line this season, that could allow Battle more opportunities to intercept passes as opposed to having to come up and tackle.

Battle showed flashes in the preseason in 2023. And as injuries and deficiencies piled up in the secondary throughout the season, a door opened for the third-round draft pick out of Alabama to show what he could do. He more than held his own, creating higher expectations heading into 2024.

Mike Hilton, Cam Taylor-Britt, and Stone headline the secondary heading into the 2024 season. They will be featured on opposing teams’scouting reports of the Bengals. Battle hasn’t worked his way onto those scouting reports nearly as much, but that’s where he can make an impact. Teams aren’t expecting him to impact games like the Bengals’ secondary headliners.

That’s why Battle is underrated. That’s a good thing.