Extend Bates Contract For Free

The Atlanta Falcons continued their free agent spending spree Monday, agreeing to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, sources told ESPN.

Current Contract Jessie Bates III signed a 4 year, $64,020,000 contract with the Atlanta Falcons, including a $18,000,000 signing bonus, $36,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $16,005,000.

The Atlanta Falcons signed Jessie Bates III to a four-year $64 million deal.

Jessie Bates III played the 2022 NFL season under the franchise tag. Now, the star Bengals safety is cashing in for the long haul ... in Atlanta. The Pro Bowl defender agreed Monday to a four-year contract with the Falcons, as CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirmed.

That would have brought the total of guaranteed money the Bengals offered Bates to roughly $17 million. Bates declined the offer and sat out training camp before reporting to the team in the final week of the preseason.

Bates' agent David Mulugheta, who was at the dinner, also represents Pitts, Terrell, and Hayward.

The Bengals tried again with Bates' representation, and their final offer was reportedly $4 million more than what he would make on the franchise tag, which is $12.9 million, bringing the total to $17 million.

The Bengals used the $12.9 million franchise tag on Bates, and neither side appeared close to coming to an agreement throughout the process. The Bengals are one of a few teams that decline to add guaranteed money beyond the first year of non-QB contracts. They did not break precedent for Bates.

Bates has officially signed his franchise tender, putting him under contract for the 2022 season. In addition to Bates being re-signed, the Bengals placed fellow safety Brandon Wilson on the Reserve/PUP list, and waived quarterback Drew Plitt to get the roster down to 80 players.

Signing the tag now ensures Bates will be paid the entirety of the $12.911 million. It also allows him the opportunity to become a free agent next offseason.