The Jacksonville Jaguars strengthened their secondary before the trade deadline, swapping a 2027 second‑round draft pick and a 2028 fifth‑round pick for veteran safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bates, 29, who is in the final year of a four‑year, $64 million contract, will replace injured starter Eric Murray (who is out for the season). The Jaguars (6‑2) lead the AFC South by three games and rank fifth in rush defense but 22nd in pass defense. They also lead the league in turnover ratio (plus‑9) and have 11 interceptions.
The Falcons (3‑6) fell to 34‑17 against the Bengals in Madrid, and while they sit one game out of NFC South lead, they are unlikely to re‑sign Bates, who will be a free agent. New Falcons GM Ian Cunningham emphasized building via the draft, noting Atlanta had just five draft picks in 2026. The club projects having over $142 million in cap space next offseason.
Bates brings 28 career interceptions, never posting a season without one. His addition bolsters Jacksonville’s defensive depth alongside young talent such as Xavier Watts, Billy Bowman Jr., and Avieon Terrell. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi contributed to the report.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing