It might feel bold to say, but I’m confident in it: Jessie Bates III is the best free-agent signing in Falcons franchise history.
Some fans might argue for Michael Turner, Matt Bryant, or Alex Mack, and they all have strong cases. But from what I’ve seen, none of those players have impacted the Falcons’ success the way Bates has. Let’s break it down further to see why Bates deserves this top spot.
All-Pro honors are a fair way to compare players across positions. Alex Mack earned second-team All-Pro honors twice, while Michael Turner made first-team All-Pro, second-team All-Pro, and even finished second in MVP voting. Matt Bryant, although incredibly reliable, never made an All-Pro team.
Jessie Bates already has an All-Pro season on his resume and is well on his way to another. His impact was on full display again in the Falcons’ latest win, where he was the best player on defense. Bates set the tone on the second play of the game, forcing and recovering a fumble that led directly to an Atlanta touchdown. Later, he snagged an interception off Baker Mayfield in the third quarter, marking his second forced turnover of the game.
By the end of the day, Bates had five tackles, a pass defense, a forced fumble, and an interception. It seems that every Falcons victory comes with a game-changing play or two from Bates.
There are still over two years left on the deal he signed two offseasons ago, but it’s already worth considering an extension. If he keeps up this level of play, Jessie Bates III could very well cement himself as the greatest free-agent signing in Falcons history.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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