The Atlanta Falcons have landed two big fish on the unofficial first day of free agency. After signing former Saints defensive lineman David Onyemata a three-year, $35 million contract, the team has reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year, $64 million deal with safety Jessie Bates III.
Bates III is a player that Falcons fans have been lobbying for since the start of the offseason. Once the news broke Monday afternoon, many fans took to Twitter to celebrate.
Four years, $64.02 million for Jessie Bates, who gets $23M in Year 1, per source. https://t.co/7dtPtrtq6f
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2023
One of the most impactful free agents available is heading to the Falcons, per @JFowlerESPN: S Jessie Bates.
First look via @TheGraphicGod_. pic.twitter.com/BRuwW25te9
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 13, 2023
See now Jessie Bates getting together with Richie Grant in that #Falcons secondary has me excited for new DC Ryan Nielsen's plans. I think we saw how well they utilized the SAFs in New Orleans and can imagine Jessie will get to roam freely to make opposing QBs pay! Fontenot 👇 https://t.co/EisOSiiYnQ pic.twitter.com/pWet5U0Hmx
— Jordan Silveira (@JordanTSilveira) March 13, 2023
Falcons land one of NFL’s best safeties Jessie Bates at big money. Falcons planned to be aggressive in FA after being quiet the last couple of years. Bates is a big one to reshape D and they aren’t done yet. https://t.co/UQeOr5tHhL
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 13, 2023
Lordy. Good signing tho. Secondary been cheeks for years https://t.co/jFBNBajTNB
— Ryan (@datboywolf) March 13, 2023
The Falcons, by my math, have spent over $200 million today in total contracts. https://t.co/Hti64wf0VE
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 13, 2023
TERRY FONTENOT…… I LOVE YOU. I REALLY DO 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 https://t.co/vWAwezFou9
— THEY ONLY RESPECT DISRESPECT! VILLAIN – MAD MIKE! (@MadMikeSports) March 13, 2023
Yes Siiirrrrrrrr💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 https://t.co/JWOPgPY0KO
— Calvin Lyles (@DaBoss803) March 13, 2023
Okayyyyy 👀 https://t.co/Wr2Qp1WNa8 pic.twitter.com/dSUTvEzFHH
— K.BO 25 (@KBO_XXV) March 13, 2023
Jessie Bates is getting paid. He’s now one of the highest paid safeties in the league. There was a lot of speculation that Bates would go to Atlanta after he had dinner with other Falcons players represented by his agent, David Mulugheta. https://t.co/nITED7qSpn
— Mohammad Ahmad (@MohammadAhmadTV) March 13, 2023
OMFG YES https://t.co/dU3BXXhU4Z
— Black Chet Ubetcha🎙️ (@NotChrisSykes) March 13, 2023
16 mil a year?????? https://t.co/jPFkOQ9RCH
— AD FANATIC (@tywow28) March 13, 2023
Falcons projected to still have around $33-34M even after the Bates signing. this is great.
— Scott Carasik (@CarasikS) March 13, 2023
Yeah I like Bates but not for 16 per https://t.co/QKKb4WEmo8
— Michael Boston (@michaelkboston) March 13, 2023
TERRRRYYYYYYY😫😫😫💦 https://t.co/kyFADwZolH
— Jimmy (@JimmyG1574) March 13, 2023
Falcons making moves today:
•Trade for Jonnu Smith
•Signing Jessie Bates
•Signing David Onyemata
•Re-signed Chris Lindstrom pic.twitter.com/28cU0NEuA9— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 13, 2023
Plays like these made Jessie Bates III the fourth-highest paid safety of all-time. 🔥@jlbiii3 ➡️ @atlantafalcons pic.twitter.com/q9ChmG9ffN
— NFL (@NFL) March 13, 2023
Bates comes in at $16.005 per year ($64.020M over four years), now agreed to. After playing on franchise tag in Cincinnati, Bates finds new home. https://t.co/ic4TIyEK6i
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2023
🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿 https://t.co/ntGfFkPB2J
— Gustavo Fring (@zone6nova) March 13, 2023
Stay up to date with every move the #Falcons make using our 2023 free agency tracker https://t.co/zmcqVgUU4U
— The Falcons Wire (@TheFalconsWire) March 13, 2023
