2022 NFL free agency: Projected landing spots, contract, updates for Bengals’ Jessie Bates

Jessie Bates III wants to stay in Cincinnati, where he has blossomed into being one of the NFL’s best safeties. The Bengals would also like to keep Bates in Cincinnati, something that director of player personnel Duke Tobin confirmed this week at the NFL Scouting Combine. Given both parties’ interest, it would seem like a foregone conclusion that Bates will pen a long-term deal with the Bengals any day now. 

Unfortunately for Bates, the Bengals and their fans, things are seldom that easy when it comes to contracts, especially in a salary cap sport. Fresh off of the franchise’s best season in over 30 years, the Bengals are hoping to add a few more pieces to the roster this offseason that will result in Cincinnati’s first Super Bowl win. That includes keeping several of their free agents, most notably Bates, who last season played an integral role in the Bengals’ success. 

The 52nd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Bates has collected 10 interceptions, 35 passes defensed and 408 tackles in 63 regular season games. Bates really showed his worth in the 2021 postseason, as he recorded two interceptions, broke up six passes and made 20 tackles for the reigning AFC champions. 

Bates’ postseason performance surely drove up his projected market value, which is currently slated at about $72.44 million over five years for an average annual salary of $14.48 million, according to Spotrac. The totality of Bates’ market value would make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Annually, Bates would be among the league’s highest-paid safeties but behind Jamal Adams, Harrison Smith, Justin Simmons, Budda Baker and Eddie Jackson. 

With free agency coming up, here’s a look at the five best possible landing spots for Bates, as well as a prediction for where he will likely play in 2022.