The Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to a big trade involving a Pro Bowl defensive back. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Falcons are sending safety Jessie Bates III to the Jaguars in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Bates has been with the Falcons since 2023 and is in the final year of his contract.
Bates began his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He spent five seasons with the Bengals before signing a four-year, $64.02 million contract with the Falcons. In Atlanta, Bates earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023 and All-Pro Second Team honors in 2023 and 2025.
Bates was also an All-Pro Second Team selection with the Bengals in 2020. "ATL Forever Grateful!" Bates wrote on X/Twitter after the trade was reported. The Falcons are making the trade after a 34-17 loss to the Bengals in Spain on Sunday.
Atlanta is 3-6 but just one game out of first place in the NFC South. While the Falcons are still in the playoff race, this trade indicates they are building for the future. New general manager Ian Cunningham wants to build the team through the draft, and the Falcons had only five draft picks this year.
The Falcons also have a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski, and Falcons legend Matt Ryan is the new president of football. The team will likely look very different next year, especially when it will have $142 million of salary cap space in 2027, according to Spotrac (via ESPN). Bates joins a Jaguars team that is 6-2 and has a three-game lead in the AFC South.
He will replace Eric Murray, who is out for the season with an injured elbow.
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