When it comes to offseason objectives, the Cincinnati Bengals have checked every single box but one: figuring out what to do with Jessie Bates III.

Technically, one can say the Bengals figured it out when they decided to hit Bates with the franchise tag. However, the situation remains unresolved due to the fact Bates won't sign the tag. So, technically, the Bengals haven't figured it out.

Confused, yet? Me too. Let's move on.

Regardless of circumstances, it's hard to argue that Bates isn't a good player. He earned a spot on the 2020 second-team All-Pro roster and his 10 interceptions are 11th-most among all safeties and 23rd among all defensive backs since 2018.

And according to coaches, executives, and players around the league, Bates is the NFL's sixth-best safety.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has been assembling top-10 lists for each position and he recently published his list for NFL safeties. Per Fowler and his interviewees, Bates is a safety that every single team in the NFL would love to have on their roster.

Below is what Fowler wrote in regard to the league's perception of Bates:

… "A lot of times guys who are good in coverage might not be the best tacklers, but I feel Bates has found a good balance — he's elite on the ball, but he's not a liability against the run either," an AFC exec said.

"Bates admitted to a lack of focus early in the season as he couldn't come to an agreement on a long-term extension with Cincinnati. He is set to play on a $12.8 million franchise tag this year, and though both sides have until July 15 to reach a new deal, that's widely not expected.

"That happens sometimes when a guy enters a contract year … there's a lot to process … but as the season went on, he was excellent," an NFL personnel evaluator said."

The clock is ticking on the Bengals and Bates

This is easily one of the offseason's more interesting situations. Both parties are currently in a game of chicken and they don't have much time left to figure this out.

The deadline to sign the franchise tag or work out a long-term deal is on Friday, July 15 – just four days away.

It would be a mistake for the Bengals to go into the season without Bates on their roster. And while the ultimate decision is partly out of the Bengals' hands, they can certainly make it easier on Bates to stick around.

One route would be for the Bengals to dismiss their archaic methodology that's behind their contract structure. The Bengals don't like to give out guaranteed money past the first year of a new deal, which isn't the best idea in the world for a Super Bowl contender.

And, right now, Bates is dealing with the same circumstances that he'd have to face if he signed a new deal, anyway. He currently has no guaranteed money after 2022 since he's been tagged. If he were to sign a long-term deal, at least he'd have more years under contract. That seems like a better spot to be in than possibly going out, playing under the tag, and suffering a severe injury or playing so poorly that it puts his 2023 prospects at risk.

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out. Is Bates really willing to give up a $12.9 million payday in 2022 despite just making a little more than $6.8 million over the course of four years?

And are the Bengals willing to let arguably their best defensive back sit out the season?

It would certainly be a gusty move on both ends, that's for sure.

Tick tock.

You can check out Fowler's full column, here.

Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports