SNDavidson
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"Bates, playing on the franchise tag, is likely out of Cincinnati after the Bengals drafted his replacement (Daxton Hill) in Round 1 last year," Rosenthal wrote. "Bates might have greater value to a team that plays more single-high safety, although there are fewer of those teams every year." https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allb...onn-bell-make-nfl-networks-top-51-free-agents"
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 10
Bates comes up big when the Bengals need him. Just look at their four-game playoff run, when Bates was stellar with six pass deflections and two interceptions. The 10th-ranked safety last year is no longer flying under the radar.
"A lot of times guys who are good in coverage might not be the best tacklers, but I feel Bates has found a good balance -- he's elite on the ball, but he's not a liability against the run either," an AFC exec said.
Bates admitted to a lack of focus early in the season as he couldn't come to an agreement on a long-term extension with Cincinnati. He is set to play on a $12.8 million franchise tag this year, and though both sides have until July 15 to reach a new deal, that's widely not expected.
"That happens sometimes when a guy enters a contract year ... there's a lot to process ... but as the season went on, he was excellent," an NFL personnel evaluator said.
A few voters knocked Bates as a below-average tackler, though his 88 tackles last season ranked No. 24 among defensive backs. Cincinnati was pleased with his all-around play last season."https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/in...yers-make-their-picks-best-back-end-defenders
Yes, we have an absurd amount of $$ tied up in the Safety spot for 2023, but then we can cut both Diggs and Adams, and, the rest of the defense will be young for 3 or 4 years as they will be rookies and 2nd years. Bates is ET3 light.
6. Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 10
Bates comes up big when the Bengals need him. Just look at their four-game playoff run, when Bates was stellar with six pass deflections and two interceptions. The 10th-ranked safety last year is no longer flying under the radar.
"A lot of times guys who are good in coverage might not be the best tacklers, but I feel Bates has found a good balance -- he's elite on the ball, but he's not a liability against the run either," an AFC exec said.
Bates admitted to a lack of focus early in the season as he couldn't come to an agreement on a long-term extension with Cincinnati. He is set to play on a $12.8 million franchise tag this year, and though both sides have until July 15 to reach a new deal, that's widely not expected.
"That happens sometimes when a guy enters a contract year ... there's a lot to process ... but as the season went on, he was excellent," an NFL personnel evaluator said.
A few voters knocked Bates as a below-average tackler, though his 88 tackles last season ranked No. 24 among defensive backs. Cincinnati was pleased with his all-around play last season."https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/in...yers-make-their-picks-best-back-end-defenders
Yes, we have an absurd amount of $$ tied up in the Safety spot for 2023, but then we can cut both Diggs and Adams, and, the rest of the defense will be young for 3 or 4 years as they will be rookies and 2nd years. Bates is ET3 light.