When the Cincinnati Bengals let safety Jessie Bates walk in free agency a few offseasons ago, it had the obvious potential to backfire in spectacular fashion.
So far, it has. The Bengals attempted to move on with first-rounder Dax Hill in that role, who now plays cornerback. Geno Stone and Jordan Battle enter 2025 likely on their last chance to prove themselves under new coordinator Al Golden.
Bates, meanwhile, has two All-Pro nods to his name and just popped up as the fourth-best safety in the NFL from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who polled personnel from around the league:
“Lack of physicality was a criticism of Bates during his four-year stint in Cincinnati, but he is viewed as more of a complete player now with 234 tackles over the past two seasons. He isn't afraid to take aggressive angles and try to punch the ball out when tackling.”
We wrote at the time that it didn’t make sense for the Bengals to let Bates walk, especially because of how obviously important his range was in Lou Anarumo’s scheme. Quarterback Joe Burrow, as recently as last winter, lambasted the organization for letting good players get away and Bates certainly qualifies.
What stings the most? Bates is still only 28 years old and already two years into that four-year contract the Bengals apparently didn’t want to sign.
It’s shades of the Andrew Whitworth mistake, if not worse, as offseason lists will keep reminding the Bengals of their big mistake for the foreseeable future.
