Joe Burrow Praises Jessie Bates, Star Safety Set to Begin Season Without Contract Extension

Burrow and Bates are arguably the two most important pieces of Cincinnati's rebuild.

CINCINNATI — The Bengals open the 2021 season on Sunday afternoon against the Vikings. 

Safety Jessie Bates will be on the field and all signs point toward him playing out the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. The team could sign the 24-year-old safety to a long-term deal, but the two sides haven't been able to come to an agreement. 

The Bengals don't like to take contract talks into the season, which means the next few days could be the last time either party will discuss a long-term deal until the offseason. 

On the surface, signing Bates seems like a no-brainer for the Bengals. Negotiations are part of the process, but the Wake Forest product has done all of the right things since the Bengals selected him in the second-round (54th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

He finished with 109 tackles, three interceptions and 15 passes defensed last season. Not only has Bates emerged as a star on the field, but he's become one of the Bengals' best leaders and his teammates made him a first-time captain earlier this week.

"Everyone knows what he can do on the field, but I think where he really shines is in the locker room. He really knows how to talk to (everyone)," Joe Burrow said. "When you're in the locker room, you understand some people are kind of like chameleons. They can talk to everybody. One day they'll be sitting with the DBs, the next day, they'll be sitting with the defensive line, the next day with the receivers and you know they can talk to everybody. As a leader of a team, that's what you have to try to do and Jessie is really good at that. And so whether that is his practice, or it just comes naturally, I think that's what a good leader does."

Bates is likely looking for something comparable to what Jamal Adams received from the Seahawks last month. The star safety signed a four-year, $70 million extension with $38 million guaranteed. 

It would be shocking if the Bengals got anywhere near the $30 million mark in guarantees. 

That's not how they operate. The Bengals have signed plenty of free agents over the past two offseasons, but none of them received more than $20 million in guaranteed money (DJ Reader).

Burrow ($36 million) and Ja'Marr Chase ($31 million) are the only two players on the roster that have $30+ million in guarantees and that's because their entire rookie deal is guaranteed. 

If they were going to make an exception, this might be the time to do it. Bates' importance to the Bengals' defense cannot be overstated.

"He's what makes the defense go," Burrow said. "He's the guy communicating. And he's the guy in the middle that really understands what they're trying to do on defense and what the offense is trying to do as well, taking calculated risks on the field. And, you know, everybody respects him and he doesn't speak up a lot, but when he does, everybody listens."

The Bengals could always place the franchise tag on Bates next season, but his asking price is only going to go up if he continues to play at an elite level. 

Playing hardball with Bates sets a weird precedent for a young locker room full of promising players. Will the team shy away from giving Tee Higgins a market deal? What about Jonah Williams, Chase or even Burrow?

That's a question those guys are going to ask if the Bengals don't get a deal done with Bates and are forced to use the franchise tag on one of, if not the best player on the roster.

Make sure you bookmark AllBengals for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more with the season opener just a few days away!

You May Also Like:

Bengals Projected to Finish With Most Wins Since 2017

Film Breakdown: How the Bengals' Defense Can Contain Minnesota's Offense

Previewing the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals

Quinton Spain Eager to Prove Doubters Wrong

Ja'Marr Chase Confident, Despite Drop Issues

Pooka Williams Changes Number and Position Before Week 1

Trae Waynes Ruled Out for Season Opener

Jessie Bates, Joe Burrow Lead Way as Bengals Name Captains

Joe Burrow Says No Concerns About Left Knee

Joe Burrow Among Favorites to Win NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Remade Bengals Defense Looking to Show Improvement Against Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals Home Underdogs Against Minnesota Vikings

Joe Burrow Projected to Have Record Breaking Season

Ja'Marr Chase Projected to Post Monster Numbers This Season

Practice Notes: Ja'Marr Chase Continues to Drop, Plus the Latest Injury News

NFL Executives Rank the Bengals Near the Bottom of the AFC

Bengals Place Khalid Kareem on Injured Reserve, Re-Sign Mike Thomas

Four Thoughts on the Bengals' Initial Practice Squad

Bengals Claim Two Players on Waivers

Ten Thoughts About the Bengals' Initial 53-man Roster

Grading the Trade: Bengals Sent Billy Price to Giants, Add B.J. Hill to DL Room

Joe Burrow Not Concerned About Ja'Marr Chase's Drop Issues

Postgame Observations: Bengals Lose to Dolphins 29-26

Watch: Joe Burrow Gets Standing Ovation in Return to Paul Brown Stadium

Ja'Marr Chase Could End Up Being a Fantasy Steal

Film Room: DJ Reader Shines Against Washington

Fantasy Focus—Bengals Expected to Have to Breakout Players This Season

Film Room: How Taylor & Pollack Can Use Wide Zone to Beat Modern Defenses

A look at Frank Pollack's Wide Zone Scheme and How it Will Impact Joe Mixon

Film Breakdown: Why Ja'Marr Chase Has a Chance to be Special

Mike Brown Bullish on O-Line: They're Going to "Surprise People"

Three Down Look: Bengals Defense Under Pressure to Create Pressure

Film Breakdown: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly for Left Tackle Jonah Williams

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly From Vonn Bell's First Season in Stripes

Film Breakdown: DJ Reader Should Be an Impact Player for the Bengals

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on AllBengals all the time!

Subscribe to the AllBengals YouTube channel
Follow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengals

Like and follow AllBengals on Facebook