The Cincinnati Bengals have long gotten a little too stingy with their in-house talent to the point of alienation. That's precisely what happened with stud safety Jessie Bates when he was due to hit free agency in 2023.
After franchise tagging him previously, the Bengals declined to give Bates a multi-year contract. Once he fled to the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati's plan to have Dax Hill as his successor failed spectacularly. The comp pick the Bengals got from Bates' exit was used on McKinnley Jackson, who didn't make the roster this year. Oh well. I'll take Dexter Lawrence any day, thank you very much!
Bates was a key member of the teams that went to Super Bowl LVI and the next AFC title game. The Bengals haven't returned to the playoffs since. Nor has Bates. And he's spoken out about how all that feels and whether he thinks about still being in Cincy.
Bates isn't bitter toward the Bengals, but the 'what-if' scenarios eat at him
In an interview with Jordan Schultz, Jessie Bates explained that he understood the business side of the NFL when the Bengals decided not to retain him. Bates recognized that they needed to pay Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins big money.
Asked if he still thinks about the "what-if" scenario of staying with the Bengals, Bates said, "Heck yeah!" And there was more...
"We had a great run. [...] Those times were some of the greatest times of my life. I understood it's part of the business sometimes. You can't fit everyone in that cap number, but that number is a little higher nowadays than it was back around COVID. It's all a blessing. It's part of the journey...I was there for five years. That place has a special part in my heart for sure."
And it stings more that Joe Burrow publicly stumped for the front office to keep Bates. Good thing the organization has listened to Burrow's voice more often in recent years. Dear lord.
Umm but...if the Falcons somehow start sharply trending down and the Bengals absolutely wax them in Madrid in Week 9, did Bates' remark about the salary cap hint at a potential reunion!?
I'm gonna say no for now. At least at the trade deadline. Maybe when Bates hits free agency this offseason? I'd take him back in a heartbeat. Shoot Who Dey Nation, we all would wouldn't we?
Cincinnati's safety room (still) hasn't fully recovered from Jessie's exit
Jordan Battle is still a liability as a tackler and not as good in coverage as in 2025. The revolving door of safeties beyond him has been a who's who of disasters, bottoming out with Geno Stone the previous two seasons.
Thankfully, the Bengals opted to sign ex-Chief and Cincinnati native Bryan Cook in free agency this offseason. Cook has more or less delivered, even as he's battled a nagging ankle injury and missed some time because of it.
If nothing else, Cook is a reliable tackler and an excellent locker room leader. Both of those were sorely lacking once Bates left.
What Bates is so great at is guessing at route concepts and often being right. He can freelance and make massive plays on the ball. You can't tell me that wouldn't have been worth an extra win in either 2023 or 2024, where Cincinnati finished a game out of the playoffs with 9-8 records.
Shoot even last season Bates' leadership could've led to a few more wins and a postseason berth. It's wild that a safety can make that much of an impact, yet in Bates' case, it's absolutely true.
I'm wondering WHAT IF, too, Jessie. See you soon in Madrid. Not the vibe I wanted to enter Week 8 with in what should be a cakewalk Week 8 win over the Titans before the trip abroad.
Add us as a preferred source on Google