Chris Lindstrom, Jessie Bates among the 100 most valuable NFL players

The Falcons’ 2023 campaign was underwhelming, culminating in the termination of Arthur Smith. However, there were a few bright spots, especially Chris Lindstrom and Jessie Bates III, who were named to the AP All-Pro teams.

Atlanta’s two biggest investments this offseason paid immediate dividends. The club made Chris Lindstrom the highest-paid guard in league history at the time of the deal and Jessie Bates the fourth-highest-paid safety.

Lindstrom signed a five-year, $105 million extension, and Bates inked a four-year, $64.02 million free agent contract. That nearly $170 million investment has certainly made the Falcons happy, and they’re continuing to garner praise from the national media.

Most recently, the pair made Seth Walder of ESPN’s list of the 100 most valuable players from the 2023 season. Bates came in ranked 29th, and Lindstrom came in ranked 77th.

Walder ranked these players by their value, heavily influenced by quantitative evidence like pass block win rates and our Receiver Tracking Metrics, as well as All-Pro teams and qualitative information such as Pro Football Focus grades. To address the value of different positions, Walder considered how much value a player created over an average starter at his position.

Bates was the third most valuable safety, according to this list, and Lindstrom was the third most valuable offensive guard.

Bates ranked second among safeties in tackles (132) behind Camryn Bynum, second in interceptions (6) behind Geno Stone, and tied for third in forced fumbles (3) behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and Josh Metellus.

Both players missed first-team honors by one vote, so it was as close of a race as you could have.