Even with Cincinnati’s recent free agency splurge, they still avoid throwing huge guaranteed money at players. Bates likely wants to become the highest paid safety in the NFL, which is hard to argue against given how that is how contracts go in the NFL where every time a player of his caliber gets a deal it usually is record breaking at the position. Bates is one of the best safeties in the NFL, and he sees what other players of his caliber are being paid. This has seemed to be the issue at the core of this negotiation.
Garafolo doesn’t see the Bengals venturing into that per-year area code with Bates. Bates, who earned $2.43 million in 2021 while helping the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance, would obviously get a significant raise, but it would come in comparison to Minkah Fitzpatrick recently signing an extension with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers that has him making a league-high $18.24 million per season.
The now franchise tagged Bates is currently facing a deadline on the 15th to come to terms on a longer contract or sign the franchise tag guaranteeing him $12.9 million in 2022 and likely hitting the open market following the season.Ī recent report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo doesn’t see Bates and the Bengals coming to terms:īates has yet to sign his franchise tag and would be due $12.9 million on the tag in 2022. The Cincinnati Bengals and safety Jessie Bates have been trying to come together on a long term deal since prior to the 2021 season.