Jaguars trade for Jessie Bates, with a physical still pending

Jacksonville is sending a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Atlanta for safety Jessie Bates III. The Jaguars announced the trade Monday, with completion pending a physical.

Atlanta restructured Bates’ contract before the agreement, according to Jacksonville’s announcement. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons are paying most of his salary. Neither the Jaguars’ statement nor that report gives a complete revised salary allocation.

Bates, 29, has started all 139 games of his NFL career. His record spans five seasons in Cincinnati and four in Atlanta, with 28 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles. He has earned three second-team AP All-Pro selections, most recently for 2025.

A present need, paid for with future picks

The move addresses a specific loss in Jacksonville’s secondary. Starting safety Eric Murray is out for the season with an elbow injury, NFL.com reported. Bates arrives with experience and a record of creating turnovers at the position Jacksonville needs to reinforce.

Through nine games this season, Bates has 60 tackles, three forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble-return touchdown, according to NFL.com.

The second-round selection is the central cost. Jacksonville gives up a substantial chance to add a younger player under a rookie contract in exchange for help during its current season. Atlanta receives that future opportunity while moving a veteran in the final year of his contract.