The regression of Jessie Bates

[TecmoBengals]

As a couple others have posted in this thread, I have no issue with the Brown family spending a lot of money on players or even overpaying a player if not detrimental to the overall roster & salary cap management.

My question, should the money go to Bates or are there free agents for the upcoming '22 period that the Bengals should throw the money at instead? Think of the Lawson situation. One could argue dollars were reallocated from him to sign Hendrickson. Could something similar happen in the upcoming offseason? So how does this play out for Bates? Pay him or use the money for a different player or players?