Falcons to Trade Jessie Bates to Jaguars

The Atlanta Falcons are trading safety Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Bates has been one of the league’s premier safeties since signing with Atlanta in 2023 and has started all 60 possible games, totaling 14 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 392 tackles.

Through nine games this season, Bates has recorded 60 total tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles. Bates has also earned three second-team All-Pro honors (2020, 2023, 2025) and a Pro Bowl selection (2023).

The Jaguars were in need of a safety after starter Eric Murray was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 3 and ruled out for the remainder of the season with an elbow injury. Bates, who is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract, will help fill the hole left by Murray and join a Jaguars team that is 6-2 and currently holds a three-game lead in the AFC South.

After their 34-17 loss to the Bengals in Madrid in Week 9, the Falcons are currently 3-6. While not ideal, they are only half a game out of first place in the NFC South but still opted to trade away one of their team leaders in Bates prior to the N0vember 10 trade deadline.

Bates is set to become a free agent this offseason, so the Falcons opted to get compensation for him now rather than risk losing him in free agency. The Falcons are also projected to have the most cap space in the league heading into next offseason, according to Spotrac.

Go to our NFL page for more articles and updates like Potential Trade Destinations for Jonathan Taylor!

You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!