The Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff chances won’t swing much on Sunday morning’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain. How both teams approach the NFL trade deadline, however, may depend on what happens overseas.

The two teams could even make a trade that sends a prominent player back to his original club. If Cincinnati wins, Atlanta drops to 3-6, and its playoff odds fall below 20%, according to rbsdm.com. That reality could push the Falcons to trade safety Jessie Bates III back to the Bengals.

Why a Bengals-Jessie Bates reunion is what Cincinnati needs

The Bengals know their defense needs more help behind the defensive line. Cornerback, linebacker, and safety should all be positions Cincinnati wants to improve before the deadline passes Tuesday afternoon.

In terms of pure talent and reputation, Bates may be the best defensive player the Bengals could possibly acquire within the next few days. He just happens to be arguably their best former player still making an impact in the league.

Bates played his first five seasons in the Queen City. He would be a considerable upgrade over safety Jordan Battle. Pairing him with Bryan Cook would give Cincinnati its best safety tandem since Bates was last here in 2022.

That said, a deal is only remotely possible if the Falcons feel they aren’t positioned to make the playoffs. A Cincinnati win Sunday may be the last thing that pushes Atlanta in that direction.

What it would take to bring Bates back to Cincinnati

According to the A to Z Sports Trade Simulator, Bates is worth roughly the equivalent of the Bengals’ projected third-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft. If the Falcons throw in their seventh-round pick, the trade values come even closer to equal. Cincinnati typically deals in pick swaps when it comes to trades like this.

A third-round pick is a relatively high price. However, the Bengals expect to receive a third-round compensatory pick in next year’s draft. That pick will come from former Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson signing his $28 million-per-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency this offseason.

Sending off one third-rounder while another is on the way makes a ton of sense. Cincinnati would essentially be using Hendrickson’s departure to bring back another familiar face from its playoff runs earlier in the decade.

Bates still has a soft spot for the Bengals

This potential reunion isn’t some unrealistic fairy tale. Bates recently told NFL insider Jordan Schultz he still thinks about his time in Cincinnati and the organization’s decision to move on, and what could’ve been if he stayed.

“I mean, heck yeah, man! They had to pay the offense, man. They had to get those playmakers, those one-in-a-lifetime type of talent,” Bates told Schultz. “I love those dudes, and we had a great run. A couple times at the Super Bowl, and those times were some of the greatest times of my life. So I understood. That’s part of the business.

“That place has a special part in my heart for sure.”

Bates is clearly still fond of the Bengals organization, which means he could be on board playing there again. Neither him nor Cincinnati has played in the postseason since the split occurred in 2023. 

Perhaps a reunion for the final nine games can be just what both sides need to get back to January football.

All of this means nothing if the Bengals fall short against Bates’ current team. The 29-year-old will be looking for a statement game against the club that let him walk years ago, regardless of his feelings toward them. If Cincinnati comes out on top, this ideal reunion will remain a possibility for two more days.