NFL franchise tag 2022: 10 players most likely to be tagged

7. NFL free agents likely to get the franchise tag – Jessie Bates

After years of being regarded as a lower-tier position, the importance of good safety play has really been enhanced in the modern NFL. Safeties have a ton of responsibilities both in defending the run, being the last line of defense downfield and even covering big tight ends that cause matchup problems for other defenders.

Teams that unearth good safeties will work hard to keep them and the Cincinnati Bengals will likely use the franchise tag to keep Jessie Bates. An emerging star, Bates was a key factor for the Bengals in their Super Bowl run and helped set up Cincinnati’s winning points in the AFC Championship Game by tipping a pass that was intercepted in overtime.

Bates is just 24 years old and has already emerged as one of the best safeties in the NFL. A lot of top contenders are looking for help at safety, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys, so Bates would have a wide range of suitors if he managed to hit the open market.

There is no logical reason for Cincinnati to let that happen since they have over $50 million in salary cap room and the franchise tag value for safeties is just under $13 million. The ideal plan for the Bengals is to secure a long-term extension with Bates but they have the franchise tag available as a backup plan if necessary.