If the Bengals aren't happy with second-round pick Lamont Thompson, Washington State gladly will take him back.

        “No question,” Cougars secondary coach Chris Ball said of his former All-America free safety. “After five years of no trouble? We already miss him.”

        The Bengals seem to be happy. The team made Thompson the 41st overall selection of the 2002 NFL draft Saturday. He was the third safety taken, after Oklahoma's Roy Williams at No.8 and Edward Reed of Miami at No.24.

WHO IS LAMONT THOMPSON?

More info about the Bengals' second-round pick at: • ESPN • NFL • USA Today

        In selecting Thompson, the Bengals passed over Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner, in whom the team had expressed interest before the draft. The Bengals also passed up a chance to draft a tight end in the second round.

        Instead, Thompson, who excels at pass defense and is a solid tackler, will have a chance to improve a defense ranked ninth overall last season.

        He's part of the Bengals' plan to add a playmaker to the secondary, to complement Justin Smith and the defensive line. Thompson left Washington State as the Pac-10's all-time interceptions leader (24).

        “That just comes second nature to me,” Thompson said. “That's not something that I try to work on or try to do (specially). I think I've just been blessed with that kind of talent and it's something that I don't think about.”

        Thompson said he knew the Bengals were one of the teams interested in him since the NFL scouting combine in March.

        Coach Dick LeBeau said Thompson will have a chance to start next season.

        “If he comes in here with the ability to get to the ball and pick the ball off, then he's got an excellent chance of coming here and getting on the field for us,” LeBeau said. “However, we'll have to mix and match and move.”

        To make room for Thompson, the Bengals could move Cory Hall to strong safety and insert Thompson at free safety.

        “We knew this was one of the areas we needed to address on this football team,” Bengals safeties coach Darren Perry said. “We needed a guy with ball skills who could make some plays for us.”

        The road to the NFL hasn't always been smooth for Thompson.

        He was granted a medical redshirt in 2000 after injuring his neck in 1999. He said the injury is fully healed.

        Asked if Thompson's injury was an issue at any point last season, Cougars defensive coordinator Bill Doba said, “He certainly didn't show it.”

        Ball said in 878 snaps last season, Thompson missed only five tackles, and he led the team with a career-high 93 stops.

        Ball said the only weakness he has heard about Thompson was that he's not a hard-hitting safety.

        “But he's a solid tackler, nonetheless,” Ball said.

        “I'd love to have him back.”

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