Another safety gets huge extension as Bengals look to do same with Jessie Bates

While it remains to be when/if it happens, the Cincinnati Bengals are still working to get a deal done with Jessie Bates. They’d likely put a franchise tag on him if an agreement can’t be reached as the star is entering his last year under contract.

Throughout the last few weeks, teams are starting to shore up their futures, especially on the defensive end, and in doing so, they’re giving the Bengals a glimpse at what a potential deal for Bates could look like.

Recently, Seattle Seahawks All-Pro safety Jamal Adams was given a four-year, $70 million deal that will have $38 million guaranteed.

More recently, the Minnesota Vikings gave a new deal to Harrison Smith, another All-Pro-caliber talent.

This time, as Jake Liscow notes, an older Smith is getting $16 million per year helps further set a standard for what a great safety is worth.

24-year-old Bates should get far more than Smith, but given the Bengals track record with in-house free agents — like cornerback William Jackson III, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, right guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive end Carl Lawson — it’s definitely not a lock to happen.

Coming off the best season of his career, the 6-foot-1 Bates has averaged over 100 tackles per season. He’s also notched three interceptions in each of his first three seasons. What’s been notable is his pass deflections, jumping to 15 this past season.

Bates is among the league’s rising stars, but the two sides still aren’t on the same page with a new deal. That may change, but time is running out, as the Bengals rarely give big extensions to players during the regular season, which is now just two weeks away, ironically against Smith and the Vikings.

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