new Image().src =
“https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c”&cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″”;
cnx.cmd.push(function () {
cnx({ playerId: “”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c”” }).render(
“”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″”
);
});
“}” data-sheets-userformat=”{“2″:14851,”3”:{“1″:0},”4”:{“1″:2,”2″:16777215},”12″:0,”14”:{“1″:2,”2″:0},”15″:”Calibri, sans-serif”,”16″:11}”>
new Image().src =
“https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c&cid=7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24”;
cnx.cmd.push(function () {
cnx({ playerId: “afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” }).render(
“3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469”
);
});
The Falcons defense ranked in the bottom-third of the NFL in most key categories last season. The team allowed 231.9 yards per game through the air and 130.2 yards per game on the ground in 2022.
It’s safe to say Atlanta addressed both areas in free agency, signing a handful of defensive linemen and the top safety on the market. Former Bengals free safety Jessie Bates III signed a four-year deal with the Falcons that averages $16 million per season.
Bates has incredible range and play-making ability, both of which should benefit Atlanta’s defense in 2023. So where does Bates rank among the NFL’s best safeties? Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar ranked Bates as the No. 8 safety in a new feature:
After five seasons with the Bengals, Bates — the former second-round pick out of Wake Forest — signed a four year, $64.02 million deal with the Falcons that included $36 million in guarantees and made him one of the league’s highest-paid safeties. This after a final season in Cincinnati in which Bates allowed 29 catches on 41 targets for 429 yards, 143 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, four interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 97.6.
Bates played 751 snaps at free safety in 2022, and his ability to break to either side deep to stop completions was in evidence last season as it generally is. In Cover-3 against the Browns in Week 14, Bates was quick enough to get to the other side of the field to intercept this Deshaun Watson pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones. — Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
By adding someone like Bates to a secondary that features A.J. Terrell, Jeff Okudah, Richie Grant and Tre Flowers, the Falcons will likely take a step forward on the back end of their defense in 2023.
Plus, with an improved front seven and considerably more depth on the roster overall, Atlanta should be in position to compete for the NFC South crown.