Cincinnati Bengals: Jessie Bates wants to get an extension done

Training camp continues for the Cincinnati Bengals and Jessie Bates spoke to the media ahead of practice. Obviously, the big story surrounding Bates right now is if an extension is going to get done.

Bates was asked about that during his media session and said he’s “eager” to get an extension done. This is excellent news because it means that he wants to stay with the team long-term. Now, it’s up to the Bengals to get a deal worked out before the season begins.

Bates also spoke about how he looks up to Broncos safety Justin Simmons and respected how Simmons handled his extension talks. Simmons, of course, signed the richest contract for a safety over the offseason and did it all the right way.

Jessie Bates wants an extension to get done with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bengals fans are thrilled that Bates wants to stay with the team who drafted him and the team obviously thinks high of him as well.

Teammate Sam Hubbard wore a shirt on Wednesday repping Bates’ charity. When asked about it (because why would he not be asked about it?), Hubbard said he wanted to play with Bates for a long time. An extension would hopefully keep both guys in Cincinnati for the next half-decade and both guys are pivotal to the rebuild of this young defense.

Safety might not be an important position but Bates is important to this team. He’s been the unsung hero of the defense and is a leader on that side of the ball. Making sure he’s with this team past 2021 is highly important and while it was great that Cincinnati got a deal done with Hubbard, now it’s time to take care of Bates.

Oh, and while we already knew that Bates was one of the best in the league at his position, Madden revealed their safety ratings and Bates made the top 10. He tied his hero Simmons with a rating of 91.

Bates wants to stay in Cincinnati and the Bengals want him with the team long-term. The only thing left to do is figure out the cost and years on the deal and make sure they’re to Bates’ liking.

For a team like the Bengals who are heading into a pivotal year, locking up guys like Bates to a long-term deal can go a long way to showing the young players what kind of organization the Bengals are. Do they take care of their players? This is the time to show the young promising players that if they perform well, their day to get paid will come too.