5 extension candidates on Cincinnati Bengals roster

3. Jessie Bates

One of the biggest storylines this past summer surrounded Jessie Bates and whether or not the Bengals should or would extend him. A second-round pick in 2018, Bates has played well since coming to Cincinnati and has been the heart and soul of the defense during that time.

While this season hasn’t been as impressive for the Wake Forest product, Bates is still more than deserving of a big contract and it’d be nice if the team who drafted him could be the ones to offer it to him. Spotrac has Bates’ market value sitting at $14.3 million annually with a five-year $71 million deal in total.

Considering that the Bengals’ financial situation is pretty good, they’d be able to afford that. The question is — Will they?

Cincinnati could choose to slap Bates with the franchise tag in 2022 and then do this same song and dance again next year. With his teammates speaking up in Bates’ defense, the Bengals should just pay Bates and keep the man in the Queen City for the next decade. He wants to be here, his teammates and the fans love him, and he’s a good player on a young rebuilding team.

Pay Bates.