Atlanta Falcons and Jessie Bates to a four-year, $64 million contract to make the former Bengals All-Pro the fourth-highest-paid safety in NFL history
Former Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates will sign a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons worth $64.02 million, according to multiple reports.
Bates’ deal is said to pay him $36 million in the first two years of the deal, with $23 million in the first season.
More importantly, he will be the highest-paid fourth safety in NFL history.
News of Bates’ deal comes hours after the Falcons re-signed star guard Chris Lindstrom to a five-year contract extension worth $105 million.
Jessie Bates agreed to a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons for $64 million, according to reports
Bates finished last season with a career-high four interceptions to end his tenure in Cincinnati.
Lindstrom’s deal made him the first point guard to receive a contract worth more than $100 million in NFL history.
Bates’ contract will serve as a nice payday for the safety who played on the Bengals’ franchise tag last season and earned $12.91 million for the 2022 season.
It was originally reported that Bates had no intentions of showing up to training camp or playing on the franchise tag after he and the Bengals failed to agree to an extension by the July 15 deadline, but he changed his mind late in August. .
Bates, who had started 79 games over five seasons with the Bengals, recorded a career-high four interceptions last season while tallying eight pass deflections and one pass deflection.
In three of his first four seasons, he also recorded over 100 tackles and also earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020.
It appears Cincinnati had planned his departure this season after drafting two defensive backs in the first and second rounds last year, including highly touted safety Daxton Hill.
For all his talent, it would make sense for the Bengals to tire of giving Bates a big long-term contract, as the team will soon need to commit to salary-cap space to extend the contract of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, along with with the star catchers Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins.
Atlanta in has been the exact opposite of cautious to begin free agency as Bates marked the sixth different player to Atlanta on Monday.
Along with the Bates and Lindstrom deals, the Falcons agreed to terms to sign or re-sign defensive tackle David Onyemata, tight end Jonnu Smith, fullback Keith Smith and punter Bradley Pinion.
The Falcons also re-signed guard Chris Lindstrom to a five-year, $105 million contract extension.