Jaguars Acquire Safety Jessie Bates III in Trade With Falcons

Jacksonville sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Atlanta for safety Jessie Bates III.

The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired veteran safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons on Monday in exchange for a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round selection. Bates, 29, joins a 6-2 Jaguars team that currently leads the AFC South by three games. The trade occurred one day before the NFL deadline to address a vacancy created by Eric Murray, who was placed on injured reserve Nov. 3 with a season-ending elbow injury.

Bates arrives in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract. The former Pro Bowler has recorded 28 career interceptions, including at least one in every season of his nine-year career spent with the Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. He joins a Jacksonville defense that ranks third in the NFL with 11 interceptions and leads the league with a plus-9 turnover ratio, despite ranking 22nd in pass defense by allowing 229 yards per game.

For the 3-6 Falcons, the move follows a 34-17 loss to the Bengals in Madrid. General manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan are positioning the franchise for a future that includes a projected league-high $142 million in salary cap space this coming offseason. Second-year safety Xavier Watts is expected to take over Bates' starting role in Atlanta, supported by young defensive backs Billy Bowman Jr. and Avieon Terrell. The Jaguars next play the 1-7 Tennessee Titans on Sunday.