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More heartbreak is set to follow in Cincinnati following their AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. If rumors are true, the Bengals will be letting go of star safety Jessie Bates III in free agency.
The team placed the franchise tag on him last season once his contract ran out. But it seems unlikely that they'll be exercising that option this time around. As per NFL insider Jay Morrison, the team looks certain to move on from Bates, who had four interceptions last season.
The safety was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and has so far spent all five seasons of his NFL career with the AFC North franchise. His performances warranted him a spot on the roster after being named second-team All-Pro in 2020.
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Plenty of teams will be around to scoop up the star safety once he hits the free agency market. Among the favorites to land him are the Atlanta Falcons and division rivals Cincinnati Bengals.
