Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Jordan Battle finally gets the green light to start a full season

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Aug 11, 2025 3:53 PM ET

Bengals roster breakdown is back! During the 99 days leading up to Cincinnati’s regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, the player with the matching jersey number as days remaining will become the day’s highlighted player.

27 days remain until the Bengals’ first game of the 2025 season, giving us a closer look at No. 27 Jordan Battle.

Jordan Battle

Age: 24
Year: 3rd
Position: Safety
College: Alabama
Previous Teams: None
Jersey Number: 27

Battle enters his third season in the NFL and with the Bengals after being drafted 95th overall in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent four years at Alabama where he played in 54 games (44 starts) and was a team captain and first-team All-SEC as a senior.

Making the roster has never been a struggle for Battle as much as staying on the field has been. He started out as a backup in 2023 but was closely behind Nick Scott on the depth chart. The two began rotating at strong safety during the middle of the season and Battle eventually took over full-time the final eight weeks. Cincinnati put Battle back on the bench after signing Vonn Bell in 2024, but Bell severely underwhelmed and forced him back in as a starter for the last six games.

Contract Details

Battle enters the third year of his four-year, $5,325,016 rookie contract he signed in 2023. He will make a base salary of $1,234,092 this year, which is also the total amount of cash he’ll earn. When adding on his signing bonus proration of $218,185, his salary cap hit for the year is $1,452,277.

Roster Outlook

Empowering recent top draft picks spent on defense has been Al Golden's primary objective as Cincinnati's new defensive coordinator, and Battle falls directly under this. His first two years were marred by previous DC Lou Anarumo's preference of playing veterans. The signing of Bell specifically despite Battle's rookie season ending on a high note was a detrimental blow that led to 2024 not working out for anyone involved.

All of that is behind Battle now, who can put together a full season of starting before he becomes eligible for a contract extension.

Battle is the Bengals' best chance at finding a long-term starting safety for the first time since Jessie Bates III, who left for a pay day the front office didn't want to give out. How he meshes under Golden's tutelage will go a long way in determining if he'll stick around for the long run in Cincinnati.

Projected role: Starting safety