Report: Snider grad Jessie Bates signs with Falcons

FILE – Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) walks on the field before the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los…

FILE – Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) walks on the field before the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, March 7, 2022, placed the franchise tag on safety Jessie Bates III, keeping him with the team for the 2022 season.(AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)

by: Josh Ayen

Posted: Mar 13, 2023 / 04:40 PM EDT

Updated: Mar 13, 2023 / 04:40 PM EDT

(WANE) – Snider High School grad Jessie Bates is cashing in at the start of the NFL free agency period.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bates has signed a 4-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, earning $16.005 million per year.

Bates spent his first five years of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Snider grad tallied 461 tackles and 14 interceptions throughout that span. Bates also helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl in the 2021-22 season, along with an AFC Championship game appearance this past year.