Jessie Bates Aiming For Bengals Extension
While the Bengals’ defense has struggled in recent years, one of their safeties emerged as a high-level performer in that span. Jessie Bates is on the cusp of a major payday, and the fourth-year defender would prefer it come from the Bengals.
Pro Football Focus’ top-graded safety in 2020, Bates is just 24 — nearly four years younger than Justin Simmons, who just signed a safety-record contract. It took the Broncos safety two franchise tags to secure that four-year, $61MM deal, but Bates should be in position to follow suit with a big-ticket extension — perhaps in the next several weeks.
“Obviously, I feel like I’m a core piece in Cincinnati. My family is three hours away, so I would love to be here,” Bates said, via Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News. “My main goal is to take that next level that I keep saying as a leader on this team. The money part of it will come. I just want to win.
“Any time it’s a new contract extension or anything, you get very excited, but like I said, I made a change with my agent last year for this reason. I think a lot of guys focus too much on it, but I feel very comfortable with the change that I made. He knows what he’s doing. It’s not his first time doing it.”
A little over a year ago, Bates hired David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Bates then had his best season as a pro, recording a career-high 15 passes defensed. He is now going into a contract year.
The former second-round pick has proven consistent since the Bengals took him 54th overall three years ago. The Fort Wayne, Ind., product has intercepted three passes in each of his three seasons and posted 100-plus tackles in all three. With six safeties signed to deals averaging more than $14MM per year, Bates can comfortably push to join them.
The Bengals have done a host of late-summer extensions in recent years, pointing to a window for Bates. Tyler Boyd signed his extension in July 2019, while Joe Mixon signed his in early September of last year. The Bengals gave recently departed stars A.J. Green, Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap big-money re-ups just ahead of the 2015 and ’18 seasons, respectively. The franchise also has a rookie-quarterback contract around which to build now.
Bengals’ Jessie Bates Hires New Agent
Bengals free safety Jessie Bates III has changed representation and hired David Mulugheta of Athletes First, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Mulugheta counts Earl Thomas, Landon Collins, and other elite safeties among his clients. Bates, 23, could be in line for a big payday of his own someday.
[RELATED: No. 1 Pick Joe Burrow Has Yet To Sign Bengals Deal]
The former second-round pick has two years left on his inexpensive rookie deal, but he’s already looking ahead to his next contract. Bates has started in every possible game over the past two seasons, racking up 211 tackles and six interceptions along the way. After celebrating his 23rd birthday in February, he could be poised for another major leap forward in 2020.
For now, Bates is set to earn $930 in base salary this year and slightly more in 2021 with cap hits of $1.3MM and $1.6MM, respectively. That’s an exceptional bargain for a high level free safety who is barely above the legal drinking age. The Bengals haven’t engaged in extension talks just yet, but it’ll be at the top of their agenda next spring.
In the interest of equal time: the advanced metrics weren’t all that high on Bates last year. But, as a rookie in 2018, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 11 ranked safety in the NFL.
In other Bengals news, the club is hoping to extend running back Joe Mixon. Mixon is coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons and entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Bengals Sign Three Draft Picks
The Bengals signed four draft picks yesterday, and they’ve inked three more rookies today. Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (via Twitter) that Cincy has signed three players: second-round safety Jessie Bates, fourth-round running back Mark Walton, and fifth-round cornerback Darius Phillips.
Bates, who was taken with the 54th pick, is the most notable name on the list. The Wake Forest product finished his sophomore season with 77 tackles, six tackles for loss, and one interception. During the 2016 campaign, the safety had 100 tackles and five interceptions. The Bengals had been eyeing a cover safety, and Bates’ versatiltiy should help him get on the field. The 21-year-old is projected to play behind starters Shawn Williams and George Iloka to begin the year.
Following a 1,000-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2016, Walton’s 2017 campaign was cut short due to an ankle injury. The Miami product ultimately compiled 428 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries in only five games. Walton has also shown some talent catching the ball, hauling in 56 receptions during his three seasons. He’ll likely serve as the Bengals’ third running back behind Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard.
During his time at Western Michigan, Phillips set the FBS record with 12 return touchdowns. He’s a candidate to return kicks and punts in Cincinnati, and he’ll serve as a depth cornerback piece (alongside fellow fifth-round rookie Darius Phillips).
The Bengals have now signed seven of their 11 draft picks. That leaves first-round center Billy Price, third-round defensive end Sam Hubbard, third-round linebacker Malik Jefferson, and seventh-round receiver Auden Tate unsigned.
North Rumors: Richardson, Steelers, Ravens
The $3MM incentive package for Sheldon Richardson will center on the interior defender’s sack production. Richardson’s one-year, $8MM Vikings deal will include a $667K bump if he reaches six sacks, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. Should Richardson register eight sacks, that number spikes to $1.3MM. It rises to $2MM for a 10-sack slate. These benchmarks will be difficult to hit. The former first-round pick has only exceeded six sacks once in five seasons (eight in 2014). Richardson can also earn $500K if he makes the Pro Bowl, which he has done once (in that ’14 season). That will increase to $1MM if a first-team All-Pro nod follows the Pro Bowl acclaim, per Goessling.
Here’s the latest from the North divisions.
- The torn labrum Ravens offensive lineman Alex Lewis suffered last summer has completely healed, Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun notes. Lewis has been working with former Ravens assistant offensive line coach Todd Washington several times per week since March, per Preston. The Ravens parted ways with Washington after the 2016 season, which was Lewis’ rookie campaign. Lewis’ return gives the Ravens options, with Preston writing the 2016 fourth-round pick could step in at center for Ryan Jensen or guard and shift James Hurst to right tackle.
- One of the top safeties available, Wake Forest product Jessie Bates spent time with Steelers brass over dinner during the pre-draft process, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes. Pittsburgh signed Morgan Burnett and plans to move Sean Davis to free safety, but Davis’ starting spot isn’t exactly secure. Pro Football Focus graded the 2016 second-rounder as the league’s worst full-time safety last season. Rating 30th on NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 prospect list, Bates probably won’t be available by the time the Steelers’ second-round pick arrives.
- Willie Snead won’t satisfy the Ravens‘ need for a deep threat, Preston writes. Despite Baltimore having signed ex-Cardinals long-range target John Brown, Preston still notes the team remains in the market for a more consistent player to fill that role. Brown signed a one-year deal, and 2015 first-rounder Breshad Perriman has not worked out.
- After signing LeGarrette Blount, the Lions might not be ready to pull the trigger on drafting a running back in Round 1.
- The Bengals met with Lamar Jackson and may be ready to debate a major investment, if the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner is still available at No. 21.