3 Bengals who are definitely entering their last season in Cincinnati

1. Jessie Bates

Heck, Jessie Bates might have already played his final snap with the Bengals if he’s serious about not playing on the franchise tag. He doesn’t have much to gain from sitting out an entire season but as of now, Bates is insistent that he won’t be playing on the franchise tag.

If the Bengals don’t sign him to a long-term deal and Bates does end up playing, however, it’s going to be his final year with the team that drafted him. Cincinnati spent a second-round pick on Bates in 2018 and he was a bright spot on a very bad defense for quite some time.

This past year his play declined in the regular season but he made up for it in the postseason. It’s not surprising that the team isn’t putting an emphasis on Bates given how the safety position isn’t considered to be as important as others.

If the Bengals don’t trade Bates and he’s on the roster for the regular-season, it’s likely going to be his final year in the Queen City.