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Bengals might regret not prioritizing extension for Jessie Bates

By Leigh Oleszczak

Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) takes the field prior to kickoff of a Week 13 NFL football game Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.Los Angeles Chargers At Cincinnati Bengals Dec 5
Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) takes the field prior to kickoff of a Week 13 NFL football game Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.Los Angeles Chargers At Cincinnati Bengals Dec 5 /
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The Cincinnati Bengals might have Jessie Bates under contract for one more season but it wasn’t because they extended him. The stripes slapped Bates with the franchise tag before the official start of free agency and not prioritizing an extension for their star safety could be a decision they live to regret.

Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report listed an offseason move that every team would regret and not making it a point to extend Bates was what he put for Cincinnati.

Moton offered this analysis:

"Despite a rough start to the 2021 season, with contractual matters on his mind, Bates finished strong, logging six pass breakups and two interceptions through the Bengals’ playoff run. He’ll command a top-dollar salary with 35 pass breakups and 10 interceptions through four seasons. The front office should pay him sooner rather than later.The Ravens signed safety Marcus Williams to a five-year, $70 million contract in free agency with $37 million guaranteed, which may have an impact on Bates’ negotiations with the Bengals. Remember, three-time All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu remains available on the open market.With approximately $25.4 million in cap space, the Bengals have the financial resources to extend Bates now."

Bengals might live to regret not extending Jessie Bates

Now it’s worth noting that the team can still come up with an extension for Bates but at this point, the two sides haven’t been able to agree on a deal that works for both parties.

Bates had his worst regular season as a starter but he made his production count when it mattered most in the playoffs. He had a key interception in the Super Bowl but unfortunately, Vernon Hargreaves ruined any chance of that pick making an actual positive impact on the game.

As Moton noted, the Ravens hit the jackpot with their signing of Marcus Williams and they got him for pretty good money too. Bates deserves to get paid in the same ballpark as Williams and if they wait too long to do so, they might find themselves starting back over at the safety position.

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Moton also mentions that Cincinnati has the funds necessary to extend Bates now and hopefully, a deal gets done. Fans are happy that the organization emptied the pocketbooks to get solid offensive linemen in Cincinnati but now they have to do the right thing and get Bates extended.

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