With the 95th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Jordan Battle. The Alabama defensive back marked the second straight year where the organization spent their first three picks on defensive players.
Let's just be real here -- The Battle pick was a bit of a surprise. Not only that but it was a little more surprising to see the team do business with the Kansas City Chiefs of all teams, swapping third-round picks with the defending Super Bowl champions. The Bengals moved down to No. 95 and gained a late sixth-round pick in the process.
Battle gives the Bengals yet another young player for their secondary and it's going to be interesting watching these young guys under Lou Anarumo in 2023.
With that being said, let's head to the bird app and see what people are saying about the newest member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Best Twitter reactions to Bengals selecting Jordan Battle in 2023 NFL Draft
The safety pick is surprising, no question. Offers depth, and BPA is always part of this, but there's a lot of other of positions that could use a Day 2 prospect.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) April 29, 2023
Stay true to their board.
Jordan Battle is definitely a dip into the weird
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) April 29, 2023
A consensus round 3 guy, but drafting a safety here does not feel like good value given who else is available
Very surprised with the side of the ball, not to mention the position here
I think this iteration of the Bengals just gets hella bemused with the board in this range and takes BPA and gets back to normal thinking later lol
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) April 29, 2023
Ok my thoughts are gathered, I was caught of-guard by a safety and didn't even have my stuff pulled up on him lol.
— Andrew Russell (@Andrew_Russell7) April 29, 2023
But Battle is experienced, "steady" is a word i have over and over on him, can play box or deep, and is instinctive. Kinda a boring player, but very dependable. https://t.co/2WD6LQ0igp pic.twitter.com/dx2Xrj1JyU
Lou laughs about Battle being in the same math class with his son at St. Aquinas in Florida.
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) April 29, 2023
"We went deep on his background," he jokes
Jordan Battle has some Vonn Bell energy #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/eT3NAuNu2U
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) April 29, 2023
Bengals get a ready smart and physical safety in Jordan Battle. He’s the perfect Vonn Bell replacement. Great eyes in zone and take on skills against the run. His instincts lead to turnovers too: pic.twitter.com/3xSiD7UKAl
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) April 29, 2023
Perhaps Battle is meant to be the next Vonn Bell, as multiple tweets touched on. This pick might have been a bit of a surprise but the Bengals needed to add depth at safety after losing Bell and Jessie Bates and now they have Battle to come off the bench and play in different roles for them.
What do you think of the pick?