Falcons Trade Jessie Bates to Jaguars for Draft Picks

With over a day remaining until the NFL trade deadline, teams are already making significant moves. The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to trade safety Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In return, the Falcons will receive a second-round draft pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028, according to sources from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Bates was seen participating in a training session in Valdebebas, Madrid, Spain, as the Falcons prepared for their upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The transaction involves Atlanta covering the bulk of Bates’ $6.5 million salary to finalize the deal, as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Bates is in the concluding year of a four-year contract worth $64.02 million, signed in March 2023. Before joining the Falcons via free agency, Bates spent the initial five seasons of his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Throughout his tenure with the Falcons, Bates was recognized as a Pro Bowl player in 2023 and received three Second-Team All-Pro honors. He played in all 60 possible games since signing with Atlanta, amassing impressive statistics, including 14 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, and 392 tackles. Bates stands out as the only player with over ten interceptions and ten forced fumbles during this four-year period.