3 years agoLocking up impending free-agent free safety Jessie Bates should be a priority for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, just behind rebuilding their offensive line. Bates is third among all safeties with 406 tackles since 2018. He didn't have an excellent regular season in 2021, but Bates led all players with six passes defensed and earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade (88.1) among safeties in the postseason. Cincinnati will have plenty of salary cap space in 2022, so the Bengals can use their franchise tag on Bates if a long-term deal doesn't get done. The soon-to-be 25-year-old finished last season with a career-low 88 tackles (67 solo), one interception and a fumble recovery in 15 regular season games.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBaller
Source: NFL.com - Judy Battista