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The Bengals may be eyeing a safety early in this year’s NFL Draft, as they have reportedly met with Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison.
According to Mike Garafolo, the Bengals are among a host of teams that have met with Harrison in some capacity, though it’s unclear if it was a pre-draft visit.
Alabama S Ronnie Harrison (No. 38 prospect on @MoveTheSticks' Top 50) had private meetings/workouts with PIT, NYG, DET, TEN, JAX, MIN, CIN, CAR, SEA, HOU, NE, and PHI. Versatile player who should go Round 2.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 17, 2018
Harrison is regarded as one of the best safeties in this year’s draft, though he gets overshadowed a lot due to playing in the same defensive backfield as Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick is regarded by many as the top safety in this draft and a likely top-10 pick, but don’t sleep on Harrison. Whereas Fitzpatrick is more of a do-it-all defender, Harrison was the physical enforcer of Alabama’s national championship-winning defense.
In 14 games this past season, Harrison finished with 74 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and four pass deflections. In 14 games as a sophomore in 2016, Harrison racked up 83 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass deflections.
It’s not often you see a safety racking up that many tackles, especially in Alabama defenses that have been stacked with an absurd amount of NFL talent. He would be a good addition for any NFL team that gets him.
NFL.com projects Harrison to go sometime in Round 2. Perhaps he’ll be someone in consideration for the Bengals with the 46th pick. Saying this, the Bengals have far more pressing needs than a safety, especially with their first two picks, both of which are in the top 50.