Official: Falcons Sign Bengals DB Jessie Bates III in Free Agency

The Atlanta Falcons have officially signed Cincinnati Bengals star safety Jessie Bates III, the team announced Thursday.

The Atlanta Falcons made the first big splash signing of the NFL free agency period on Monday when they agreed to terms with Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III.

And Thursday, pen hit paper, as the Falcons officially signed Bates to a deal that is expected to be four years, $64.02 million and worth $16 million annually.

The contract makes Bates the fourth highest paid safety in the league.

Per ESPN, Bates' deal is front-loaded, as he'll earn $23 million in the first year and $36 million in the first two.

A second-round draft pick out of Wake Forest in 2018, Bates was a day-one starter in Cincinnati and has missed only two games throughout his five-year career.

Bates III, 26, was an All-Pro in 2020 and had a strong year playing under the franchise tag this past year. Across 16 regular season games, he recorded 71 tackles, eight passes defended and four interceptions.

The 6-1, 200-pound Bates III has nabbed at least three interceptions in four of his five seasons and is widely viewed as a rangy ballhawk who can patrol centerfield as a single-high free safety.

This is where Bates III will have the biggest impact in Atlanta - by adding his ability over-the-top, it allows blossoming third-year safety Richie Grant to move into more of a traditional strong safety role, playing in the box and closer to the line of scrimmage, where he's at his best.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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