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Fresno State Safety Derron Smith worked out for Bengals

One of the top safety prospects in this year's NFL Draft, Derron Smith may have caught the eye of the Bengals coaches.

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

If the Bengals want a safety in this year's NFL Draft, there's a steep dropoff after Alabama's Landon Collins goes in Round 1.

No other safety is expected to be selected in the first round, and this is one of the weaker classes at that position in recent memory. Between Ole Miss' Cody Prewitt, Northwestern's Ibraheim Campbell and Stanfords' Jaquiski Tartt there may be only one safety taken in Round 2 as well.

If Cincinnati waits until Round 3 or later for a safety, Fresno State's Derron Smith may be an option. According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, Smith has already worked out with the Bengals and several other teams:

Smith, a full-time starter for the past three seasons, registered 187 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 14 interceptions over his three year college career. He had 13 picks from 2012-13 playing free safety, but that number declined to one after he moved to strong safety in 2014. He also played some slot cornerback.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein does has Smith rated as a "2nd or 3rd-round pick" while comparing him to Chargers safety Marcus Gilchrist:

Lacks ideal size for the position, but checks off just about every other box teams will be looking for. Smith's ability to match up in space against slot receivers and his willingness to get downhill and tackle will be coveted. Smith must learn to play under control as a tackler, but he should have a shot to come in and compete for a starting-safety or slot-corner job quickly.

Here are some of Smith's college highlights: