Bates was considered "as good as gone" from the Bengals by The Athletic's Jay Morrison back in February. Now, that speculation has been confirmed, as Bates inks a four-year deal with the Falcons, who will give him $23 million in the first year of his deal. Bates reluctantly played under the franchise tag last season but was due a big payday after performing at a high level for his first five years in the league. Bates was named a Second-team All-Pro in 2020 and has totaled 14 interceptions and 479 tackles in his career. He will immediately improve a Falcons pass defense that allowed the eighth-most passing yards (231.9) last season.

Bates was a good solider and played last year on the franchise tag, he'll likely be one of the NFL's biggest free agents this offseason with a number of teams pursuing safety help. The Bengals drafted Dax Hill last offseason to take Bates' spot and though Bates has said he'd love to return to Cincinnati, the actions are speaking louder than the words on Cincinnati's desire (or lack thereof) to give him a long-term deal. 

Bates was franchise tagged by the Bengals for the 2022 season, and is once again set to hit free agency. The former second-round pick has spent his first fives seasons with the Bengals, starting 79 games while totaling 14 interceptions, 43 passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. A Second-team All-Pro in 2020, Bates will be one of the more coveted safeties on the market when free agency officially opens. He held out for the majority of last summer in hopes of signing a new contract, but ultimately signed his franchise tag on August 23rd and reported to training camp. 

Bates reportedly signed the franchise tag Tuesday. It appears he will suit up this season as the Bengals defend their AFC title crown. The team had reportedly offered Bates a five-year deal without sufficient guaranteed money. Bates, who has 13 interceptions and 35 passes defended in four NFL seasons, was a key piece of a Bengals secondary that stepped it up late in the 2021 season and into the postseason. Pro Football Focus graded Cincinnati's defense as the 11th best coverage unit in 2021.