As the Cincinnati Bengals build towards making another run to the Super Bowl, one storyline that they have been unable to hide from this offseason is finding a way to sign Jessie Bates long-term.
The team has been in contract talks with the 25-year-old safety on a long-term extension, but no deal has been reached, with the deadline to extend Bates being July 15.
If they cannot get a deal done, Bates, who is currently in line to play the 2022 season on the franchise tag that will pay him $12.9 million, would become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.