Michael RothsteinESPN Staff Writer4:41 PM ET2 Minute Read
The Atlanta Falcons continued their free-agent spending spree Monday, agreeing deals with former Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, sources told ESPN.
The deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is for four years and $64.02 million, with $23 million in the first year and $36 million over the first two years total. Bates is the fourth highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Bates gives Atlanta a top-end secondary safety for new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to go with cornerback AJ Terrell, who the team picked in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Bates is also offering Atlanta flexibility in the defensive backfield as the team keep their two starters from last season safe – Jaylinn Hawkins and Richie Grant.
Bates becomes the sixth player to either agree terms or sign to the Falcons on Monday. New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata reached an agreement with the team, earning Pro Bowl right guard Chris Lindstrom a five-year extension to 2028 — signed punter Bradley Pinion to a three-year contract and fullback Keith Smith for a one-year contract.
Bates, who started 79 games in five seasons with the Bengals, recorded a career-high four interceptions last season and counted eight pass deflections for one of the most effective pass defenses in the league.
Cincinnati led the NFL in opposing completion percentage in 2022, keeping quarterbacks at the third-lowest overall QBR in the league, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. When Bates was the next defender, opponents were held below expectations at -8.7 completion percentage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
With exaggerated post and split-field range and a history of creating on-the-ball production with his 14 career interceptions, Bates easily fits into both single-high and two-deep schemes.
He played the 2022 season on the year-long franchise tag after he and the Bengals failed to agree a long-term extension with him for two straight seasons. As the team neared the end of its season, the 2018 second-round pick from Wake Forest said he knew he could play elsewhere in 2023.
“I’ve been emotional for a long time,” Bates said on Jan. 30. “I’m still deaf. ‘Gratitude’ is the word I can use to really describe everything that has happened here over the past five years. “
Bates, who turned 26 in February, has 3 forced fumbles (2 recoveries) along with 478 tackles and 43 passes defended. He scored his only touchdown during his rookie season.
ESPN’s Ben Baby and Matt Bowen contributed to this report.