Jaguars Land Pro Bowl Safety Jessie Bates in Trade With Falcons

WHO:

Bleacher Report - Jessie Bates is 29 years old and is a free agent in the offseason.

Bleacher Report - Jaguars general manager James Gladstone is seeking a defensive lift similar to the one provided by wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who caught 42 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns after joining Jacksonville in a midseason trade last year.

NY Post - The Atlanta Falcons are trading safety Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Daily Mail Sports - Jessie Bates is described as an All-Pro defensive star.

Heavy NFL - Bates is described as an All-Pro safety and a former Cincinnati Bengals star.

Heavy NFL - The Cincinnati Bengals were not reuniting with Bates; he was headed to another AFC contender.

Heavy NFL - ESPN reporter Adam Schefter reported the trade.

RotoWire NFL - Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Falcons were slated to send Bates to the Jaguars.

WHAT:

Bleacher Report - Atlanta lost 34-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals, its fourth loss in five games; the Falcons were a half-game out of first place in the NFC South.

Bleacher Report - Jacksonville was 6-2 and third in the AFC, after beating the Baltimore Ravens 33-10 in Week 9.

Bleacher Report - Bates recorded 60 combined tackles, one interception, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles through nine games in 2026.

Bleacher Report - Eric Murray landed on injured reserve the previous week.

Bleacher Report - Jacksonville was projected to exceed the salary cap in 2027, potentially complicating an extension for Bates.

NY Post - The Falcons are sending Bates to the Jaguars for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Daily Mail Sports - The Jaguars are sending the Falcons a second- and fifth-round NFL Draft pick in exchange for Bates.

Heavy NFL - Jacksonville acquired Bates from Atlanta in a trade.

Heavy NFL - The reported trade compensation is a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Heavy NFL - The article headline describes Bates as a “$64M” safety.

Heavy NFL - Bates’s last game with the Falcons was reported to be against the Jaguars in Madrid, Spain.

Heavy NFL - The trade prompted discussion of a possible Jaguars move for a defensive tackle and its implications for Brian Thomas Jr.; the article excerpt does not specify further details.

WHERE:

NY Post - Bates attended a Falcons training session in Valdebebas, Madrid, Spain.

Heavy NFL - Bates’s last Falcons game was in Madrid, Spain.

WHEN:

Bleacher Report - The NFL trade deadline was set for 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Heavy NFL - The reported trade was announced on Monday, November 9.

Heavy NFL - One article said the trade was reported at about 7:50 a.m. ET.

Heavy NFL - Articles described the trade deadline as approximately 24 hours away or nearly 36 hours away.

Heavy NFL - The NFL trade deadline was described as falling on Tuesday.

HOW:

NY Post - The trade was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, citing sources.

RotoWire NFL - The exchange was reported as involving a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

The Falcons are trading All-Pro safety Jessie Bates to Jacksonville for two draft picks. The Jaguars send Atlanta a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder. Jacksonville adds defensive help after starting six and two, while Atlanta has lost four of five.