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So far the new Falcons front office has been focusing on keeping their best players in-house. Their biggest move was extending wide receiver Drake London for four more years and $141 million, with $100 million of it guaranteed.
The next major contract that the Falcons hand out will likely go to either tight end Kyle Pitts - who's currently signed under the franchise tag - or running back Bijan Robinson - who is under their control through the 2027 campaign after getting his fifth-year option picked up.
ESPN has another name in mind for Atlanta to extend before the 2026 NFL season begins, though. They are recommending the Falcons extend safety Jessie Bates III.
Like most great safeties, Bates is criminally underrated and often overlooked in the national conversation. That doesn't make affect his value at all, though.
Teams that don't pay their safeties tend to regret it later on after trying to fill the void with lesser DBs - even though they may cost less. The Falcons can avoid this and keep their safety room among the NFL's best buy giving Bates a well-deserved extension.
Last year Bates' PFF grade wasn't great but his coverage numbers were still strong - he only allowed a 56.3% completion rate and a 73.7 passer rating to go with three interceptions and six pass breakups.
With eight years and 130 games already under his belt, Bates probably won't be around too much longer - and a one or two-year extension with a little new guaranteed money should be more than enough.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons should re-up safety Jessie Bates as one last offseason move
Continue reading...
The next major contract that the Falcons hand out will likely go to either tight end Kyle Pitts - who's currently signed under the franchise tag - or running back Bijan Robinson - who is under their control through the 2027 campaign after getting his fifth-year option picked up.
ESPN has another name in mind for Atlanta to extend before the 2026 NFL season begins, though. They are recommending the Falcons extend safety Jessie Bates III.
Like most great safeties, Bates is criminally underrated and often overlooked in the national conversation. That doesn't make affect his value at all, though.
Teams that don't pay their safeties tend to regret it later on after trying to fill the void with lesser DBs - even though they may cost less. The Falcons can avoid this and keep their safety room among the NFL's best buy giving Bates a well-deserved extension.
Last year Bates' PFF grade wasn't great but his coverage numbers were still strong - he only allowed a 56.3% completion rate and a 73.7 passer rating to go with three interceptions and six pass breakups.
With eight years and 130 games already under his belt, Bates probably won't be around too much longer - and a one or two-year extension with a little new guaranteed money should be more than enough.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons should re-up safety Jessie Bates as one last offseason move
Continue reading...
