Three Bengals defensive starters expected to hit free agency

The Bengals have been successful in identifying pieces on Day 2 of the draft and via free agency in recent years. Not all of Cincinnati’s big investments have hit, but the team will soon face decisions regarding some of the moves that did.

Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell and Germaine Pratt are 12 days from free agency and can begin talking with other teams, via the legal tampering period, two days before the market officially opens. The two-time reigning AFC North champions face the prospect of losing all three starting defenders. Cincinnati does reside near the top of the league in terms of cap space, holding $35.6M. The team has not committed to moving on from any of these players, but each is poised to hit the market.

“We want them back,” director of player personnel Tobin said (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) of the aforementioned trio. “It’ll be dependent on how much they’re offered from other teams, if they’re offered from other teams, and how much we have in the resources to bring them back.”

After franchise-tagging Bates last year, the Bengals do not appear likely to use their tag by Tuesday’s deadline. Bates, 26, would cost more than $15M to keep on the tag again. After two years of failed negotiations, the former second-round pick is poised to be one of the top free agents available. Bates and Bell teamed up as starters for the past three seasons, and while the Bengals did draft Dax Hill in the first round last year, their safety spot will take a hit if both depart.

Bates has been one of the NFL’s best safeties for a few seasons, while Bell — who played out a three-year, $18M deal — proved solid for a team that began a shift in terms of an openness to outside free agents during the 2020 offseason, when it added Bell, Trae Waynes and D.J. Reader. Both Bates and Bell graded as top-35 safeties, via Pro Football Focus, last season. PFF graded Bell as a top-25 safety in 2020 and ’21, and although he is seeking a third contract, he should still have a decent market.

The Bell and Reader additions bolstered a team with Joe Burrow beginning his rookie contract. Burrow is likely to start the 2023 season on a monster extension, which will limit how Cincinnati can allocate its resources. The Bengals also may be keeping the option open of a Tee Higgins extension, which will be an uphill battle considering Burrow’s imminent deal and Ja’Marr Chase's trajectory. That will affect how the Bengals use their cap space this year, and Tobin confirmed bringing back both Bates and Bell should not be expected. Bell, 28, will be the more affordable option to retain.

“To me it’s important to get every good player back that contributed to our success,” Tobin said (via the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway) when asked if the Bengals could retain both Bell and Bates. “Is it realistic? Probably not, but is it important? Yes. We aren’t going to freeze out options with any of them. It will be dependent on other deals we are able to get done as the offseason goes on and what the market is for those guys. 

“Can everybody fit in at the top value that they want? No. Maybe some guys don’t get that value and want to come back, we’ll see.”

With Logan Wilson entering a contract year, Pratt seems likely to depart. The Bengals use Wilson as a three-down linebacker, while Pratt often came off the field on third downs this season. That became a point of contention with the 2019 third-round pick. He should be expected to leave in free agency, Dehner adds. Like running back, this free-agent class is loaded with talent at the off-ball linebacker spots. Pratt might find tougher sledding compared to his safety teammates on the market. PFF still graded Pratt as a top-20 linebacker last season, when he made a career-high 99 tackles and intercepted two passes.