Source: Falcons adding Jessie Bates III on 4-year, $64.02M deal

The Atlanta Falcons continued their free agent spending spree Monday, agreeing to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III, sources told ESPN.

The deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, is for four years and $65.02 million and including $23 million in the first year and $36 million over the first two years overall. It makes Bates the fourth-highest-paid safety in NFL history.

Bates gives Atlanta a top-end safety in the secondary for new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to go with cornerback A.J. Terrell, whom the team took in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Bates also offers Atlanta flexibility in the defensive backfield as the team returns both of its starters…