Jaguars acquire All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III from Falcons ahead of NFL trade deadline
Jacksonville adds veteran defensive talent ahead of NFL trade deadline
Quick Look
The Jacksonville Jaguars have acquired All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to bolster their secondary for a postseason push.
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Why It Matters
The Jaguars are currently 6-2 and looking to strengthen their roster for a postseason run. Jessie Bates III is in the final year of his contract.
On the eve of Tuesday's trade deadline, dominoes are starting to fall across the league with Week 9 largely in the books. And now, the Jaguars have acquired All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, according to ESPN. As Bates heads to Duval County, the Falcons receive a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in return.
Bates is in the final year of his contract and is set to be a free agent at the end of this season. While this is looked at as a rental, the 29-year-old should prove to be a key addition to Jacksonville's secondary as it looks to make a serious postseason push following a 6-2 start to the regular season.
In nine games played for the Falcons this season, Bates has recorded one interception, three forced fumbles and 60 total tackles. The veteran has also allowed a 78.3% completion percentage to go with a 115.2 passer rating in coverage, per TruMedia.
Bates entered the NFL as a second-round draft choice of the Bengals in 2018 out of Wake Forest. After spending his first five years of his career in Cincinnati, he inked a four-year, $64.02 million contract with the Falcons in the spring of 2023 and has been lurking in their secondary ever since. Bates is tied for the second-most interceptions (28) in the NFL since coming into the league and has been named a second-team All-Pro three times, including in 2025.
Open Questions
- Will the Jaguars sign Bates to an extension?
