Terry Fontenot hasn’t had a lot of success drafting for the Falcons, but ever since he took over GM duties in Atlanta, the club’s free agent acquisitions have been excellent.
The 2024 class is already paying dividends. Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney look like they’ll be worth every penny. The 2023 class was headlined by Jessie Bates III, and I have no problem saying that he’s going to end up being the best free agent signing in Falcons history.
It’s only been one season and some change, so he’ll have to continue this stretch of play to enter the conversation alongside Michael Turner, Matt Bryant, Alex Mack, and Warrick Dunn; however, he’s well on his way.
In his first season with the Falcons, Bates earned his first Pro Bowl nod along with his second All-Pro nomination, a campaign in which he set career highs across the board.
Bates tallied three forced fumbles, six interceptions, and 128 tackles. He was solely responsible for a couple of Atlanta’s wins, including against the Saints in the season’s first matchup, accounting for two red zone turnovers, including a pick-six. Against the Panthers in the season opener, Bates forced three turnovers that netted 17 points.
Bates ranked second among safeties in tackles (132) behind Camryn Bynum, second in interceptions (6) behind Geno Stone, and tied for third in forced fumbles (3) behind Winfield Jr. and Josh Metellus.
That impact has continued in 2024. Jessie Bates had the game-sealing interception against the Eagles, and that game-altering presence showed up again last week in the win over the Buccaneers.
In an otherwise perfect night, Kirk Cousins’ one bad moment came in a moment of desperation, resulting in an interception. Fortunately, Bates punched the ball out, not once but twice in an effort to give the Falcons offense a shot to win the game.
Jessie Bates has been worth every penny, and if he continues at this rate, he’ll be at the forefront of the conversation for the best Falcons free agent signing of all time.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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