07-09-2022, 10:48 AM
We might have just gotten a break in this.
Executives, coaches, players, and scouts ranked their top ten safeties for 2022, and Bates is ranked 6th.
The reason that's important is that four of the five players ranked ahead of him are making more than Bates on the franchise tag, with Derwin James being the outlier making less, but he's also on his rookie contract, so can Bates really command that much more than the tag?
Hopefully that gives us some leverage and James signs for 14 or 15 with maybe bonuses/incentives built in that could make it more because it's not the Bengals just lowballing him, that's ESPN putting it out there for everyone to see, including other teams.
Executives, coaches, players, and scouts ranked their top ten safeties for 2022, and Bates is ranked 6th.
The reason that's important is that four of the five players ranked ahead of him are making more than Bates on the franchise tag, with Derwin James being the outlier making less, but he's also on his rookie contract, so can Bates really command that much more than the tag?
Quote:Minkah Fitzpatrick
Steelers
26 $18,247,000
Jamal Adams
Seahawks
27 $17,500,000
Harrison Smith
Vikings
33 $16,000,000
Justin Simmons
Broncos
29 $15,250,000
Budda Baker
Cardinals
26 $14,750,000
Eddie Jackson
Bears
29 $14,600,000
Kevin Byard
Titans
29 $14,100,000
Marcus Williams
Ravens
26 $14,000,000
Quandre Diggs
Seahawks
29 $13,000,000
Jessie Bates III
Bengals
25 $12,911,000
Hopefully that gives us some leverage and James signs for 14 or 15 with maybe bonuses/incentives built in that could make it more because it's not the Bengals just lowballing him, that's ESPN putting it out there for everyone to see, including other teams.
![[Image: 7LNf.gif]](https://i.gifer.com/7LNf.gif)
