With the NFL trade deadline just one day away, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a major move to strengthen their pass defense, acquiring veteran safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In exchange for Bates, Jacksonville sent a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round selection to Atlanta.
Why Jacksonville Made the Trade
The Jaguars (6–2) currently hold a three-game lead atop the AFC South ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans (1–7), and strengthening the secondary became a clear priority after starting safety Eric Murray suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Murray was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 3.
While Jacksonville boasts one of the league’s toughest run defenses—ranking fifth at 89.3 rushing yards allowed per game after holding first place until giving up 172 yards to Baltimore on Thursday night—its pass defense ranks 22nd in the NFL at 229 yards per game. Still, the Jaguars have been opportunistic, leading the league with a plus-9 turnover ratio and ranking third with 11 interceptions.
Adding Bates fits that ball-hawking identity. The 29-year-old safety brings nine seasons of NFL experience from his time with Atlanta and the Cincinnati Bengals, earned a Pro Bowl nod in his first year with the Falcons in 2023, and has totaled 28 career interceptions—recording at least one in every season he has played.
Why the Falcons Moved On
Although Atlanta (3–6) sits just one game behind first place in the NFC South following a 34–17 loss to the Bengals in Madrid on Sunday, the team is in a transition period. Bates is playing on the final year of his four-year, $64 million deal and is set to hit free agency this offseason, making a new contract in Atlanta unlikely.
New general manager Ian Cunningham has emphasized building the roster through the draft, pointing out that Atlanta’s five-pick class in 2026 is something he wants to avoid repeating. Under first-year president of football Matt Ryan and head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Falcons are positioning themselves for long-term flexibility rather than short-term fixes.
Atlanta is projected by Spotrac to enter next offseason with more than $142 million in salary cap space—the most in the NFL. Combined with added draft capital, that gives the franchise room to continue building around its long-term offensive core of running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts.
On defense, second-year safety Xavier Watts is expected to step into Bates’ vacated starting spot alongside other young defensive backs, including Billy Bowman Jr. and Avieon Terrell.
