CINCINNATI -- A few quick thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' first fourth-round draft pick:

The pick: Josh Shaw, cornerback, USC

My take: When you talk to Shaw, you see why the Bengals felt comfortable drafting him. In a conference call with reporters minutes after his pick was announced, Shaw didn't shy away from his role in one of the most bizarre college football stories from last fall. The defensive back suffered high ankle sprains last August when he jumped from a third-story balcony during an argument with his girlfriend. Originally he said he suffered the injuries while trying to rescue his drowning nephew. That lie went viral, forcing him to eventually tell the truth. It landed him a 10-game suspension. The fact he was less than truthful to his teammates and coaches to begin with makes this pick hard to understand. Clearly the Bengals were happy with his contrition.

Versatility key: As for Shaw the player, the Bengals spent the first of their five Day 3 picks on a player who can line up both at safety and corner. While he spent the bulk of his career at cornerback, Shaw also has experience at safety. That versatility could pay off. The Bengals needed to draft safeties this year with their two starting safeties entering the final years of their contracts. One of the biggest upsides about Shaw is his strength, a trait that could pay off in man coverage. At the combine, he was a top defensive back performer with 26 bench reps.