Could 2022 be Jessie Bates’ Final Year in Cincinnati?

   Jessie Bates has been one of the linchpins of the Cincinnati Bengals defense since being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. His impact from season-to-season has been evident, and the entire Bengals secondary is built around his versatility. However, Bates and the Bengals were unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension before the Friday deadline, which could spell the end of Bates in Cincinnati.

   There are few safeties that have been better than Jessie Bates over the last four years. The former Wake Forest alum excelled in his rookie year before breaking out in 2020 and establishing himself as a household name. Bates’ versatility and his ability to comfortably play as a deep middle safety with excellent range is hard to find, as he led all safeties in passes defended in 2020 with 12, per PFF.

   The 2021 regular season was a slump in form, but Bates was a key contributor as the Bengals made their first Super Bowl appearance in over 30 years. Elite players perform when the lights are at their brightest, and that’s exactly what Bates did during the postseason, allowing just 33 total yards in coverage over four games, adding two interceptions and a further 6 passes defended.

   Despite his performances over the last four years, the Bengals and Bates couldn’t come to a long-term agreement throughout the 2021 season, so he was tendered with the franchise-tag back in March. The two sides have since March but have been unable to come to an agreement, meaning Bates will have to play out the 2022 on the $12.9 million tag. That’s where things start to get messy. 

   Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bates hasn’t officially signed the franchise tag yet and therefore cannot be penalized for not reporting to training camp. And word on the street is, as you may have guessed, Bates plans to hold out during training camp – and potentially into the regular season.

   The 25 year old would be far from the first player to threaten to hold out while waiting on a new contract, but the number that actually go through with it is significantly lower. Players want to play football and teams want players to play. It’s not a particularly complex equation. Bates is more likely to be on the field come Week 1 than not.

   However, what happens beyond the 2022 season is even murkier territory. According to Rapaport, Bates was seeking a deal in the range of $18 million a year – a number that would make him the highest, or second-highest depending on the loose change, paid safety in the NFL. The Bengals offer would lock Bates in for an additional five years, but only guarantee him $4 million more than the franchise tag – it’s not the big payday that Bates is after.

   From the Bengals perspective, it makes financial sense. Everything points towards the team making shrewd moves to extend Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow in the next two years – and both players will likely command top of the market money. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want Bates, just that they don’t want him on those terms. Clearly, their priorities lie on the other side of the ball.

   Egotistically speaking, that could be a kick in the teeth for Bates. He’s been an enigmatic presence in the Bengals secondary for four years and his emergence is worthy of a big contract. If the Bengals don’t pay Bates the sum he feels he deserves – and he’s likely right – then there’s nothing stopping him walking away and hitting the open market in 2023. 

   Of course, the Bengals don’t want that to happen. There’s a delicate give-and-take to contract negotiations and both parties want to find that balance. So far, that hasn’t happened. Could it happen at the end of the season? Possibly, but don’t be shocked if Bates is wearing another jersey in 2023. Someone will pay for his services.

-Thomas Valentine

Twitter: @tvalentinesport

Photo: Alexander Jonesi. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.